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(CNS): Following the conviction in April and the sentencing last week of Renae Hamilton (35) and Dorman Dowaine Salmon (39) CBC officials have said the fight to keep this dangerous drug out of Cayman and to disrupt drug dealers who are laundering money continues. Deputy Director Marlon Bodden, responsibie for investigations said the case demonstrates the CBC’s “unwavering commitment” to protecting the islands from synthetic opioids and money laundering. “The importation of fentanyl, even in small quantities, poses a severe risk to the Cayman Islands public health and safety. We commend the efforts of CBC Officers for their vigilance and professionalism, and we reaffirm that any attempt to exploit our borders for drug trafficking or money laundering will be met with severe consequences,” Bodden said. “CBC remains dedicated to tracing and disrupting money-laundering networks, employing asset forfeiture as a crucial strategy to deny criminals the proceeds of their illicit activities.” According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 74,702 deaths in 2023 were attributed to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Exposure to fentanyl poses extreme risks to both users and handlers. Even very small amounts can cause respiratory depression, loss of consciousness, and death, officials from CBC pointed out in a release. Fentanyl is especially dangerous because it is often disguised in various shapes, colors, and counterfeit pills, and it can appear in multiple forms,including tablets, powders, crystals, and liquids. Accidental exposure through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact can be life-threatening, making it a serious hazard for the public and law enforcement personnel. The CBC said it is using all available resources to address threats at the border and they are working closely with both local and international law enforcement agencies to combat illegal drug trafficking, illicit finance, and other illegal activities, thereby ensuring the safety and security of our islands. Minister DaCosta the new home affairs minister commended the CBC team for their professionalism and diligence. “This case serves as a clear reminder that our enforcement agencies are resolute and coordinated in their efforts to keep our Islands safe,” he said, adding that the Home Affairs ministry will support CBC and law enforcement partners in their mission to protect our Islands from the threats posed by dangerous drugs, organized crime and illicit financial activities.” The couple in this case have been sentenced to a total of nine and a half years and the court has also ordered that the $70,000 cash seized during the investigation which the crown contends all came from drug dealing be forfeited. So far Cayman has not yet seen a significant amount of illegal Fentanyl coming through the borders and as yet there have been no recorded overdoses as a result of the drug’s misuse. But CBC is wary about the potential arrival of the drug in more significant quantities. So far there have been only three cases where officials have revealed that arrests have been made or charges laid. The first was the case of American tourist, Adrian Frederick Scales (28) who was convicted in summary court and jailed for six and a half years last March for importing a tiny trace of the drug after 0.09grams of fentanyl powder was found in a back-pack he said he lent to a friend shorty before his trip. His conviction however, was overturned by the Grand Court on appeal in May because the judge found that the magistrate had made a legal error when considering the weight of Scales’ burden to prove that he didn’t know about the drug, and that he had gone some way to explaining why he did not know it was in the bag, going beyond mere denials resulting in an unsafe conviction. The third case saw three people arrested in March 2023 by CBC over the importation of more than 200 fentanyl pills but there has been no indication that any of the suspects have been charged. CNS has requested an update on the state of the investigation and we are awaiting a response.
