• Latest
Grenadian politician vindicated of drug trafficking charge

Grenadian politician vindicated of drug trafficking charge

3 years ago
Government says “no physical altercation” between journalist and junior minister

Grenada actively engaged in preparations to receive evacuees

1 day ago
Claims of coronavirus at SGU designed to create fear and panic

Covid-19 update: Grenada Dashboard 9 April

1 day ago
US congratulates Grenada on arrival of Covid-19 vaccines from COVAX

US congratulates Grenada on arrival of Covid-19 vaccines from COVAX

1 day ago
Preliminary Results of 2013 General Election

RGPF on high alert for illegal activities within Grenada–St Vincent marine space

1 day ago
Death of The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip, 9 April 2021

Death of The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip, 9 April 2021

1 day ago
At least 1st dose of Covid-19 vaccine required to enter Grenada

At least 1st dose of Covid-19 vaccine required to enter Grenada

2 days ago
First Para Swimmer to compete to qualify for Tokyo 2020

First Para Swimmer to compete to qualify for Tokyo 2020

2 days ago
Republic Bank supports GCA under-19 inter-parish competition

Republic Bank supports GCA under-19 inter-parish competition

2 days ago
Senator identifies finance as major shortcoming for sectors he represents

Senator St Clair’s message on St Vincent situation

2 days ago
Securing Economic Integration: The importance of intraregional trade

Quarantine protocol will apply to all possible St Vincent evacuees

2 days ago
The man who mapped a nation by hand

The man who mapped a nation by hand

2 days ago
National Cleanup Begins Friday

NaDMA convenes emergency NEAC meeting

2 days ago
NOW Grenada

Main Header Ad 468x60

booked.net
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
NOW Grenada
No Result
View All Result

Article Header

Grenadian politician vindicated of drug trafficking charge

This story was posted 3 years ago
30 May 2018
in General News
3 min. read
Basil Williams and his attorney Benjamin Hood
Share

by Curlan Campbell, NOW Grenada

  • Basil Williams vindicated of drug trafficking charge
  • Williams embarked on a community outreach campaign within his constituency

Grenadian politician Basil Williams has been vindicated of drug trafficking charge. Williams who has always maintained his innocence breathed a sigh of relief but said the ordeal would have a lasting effect especially since he was falsely portrayed in the media as a drug dealer.

Williams was among 3 men jointly charged with importation and trafficking of cannabis after a barrel was seized during a search at the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA) where a compressed quantity of the illegal drug was found inside a bag of cat food sent from the United States.

26-year-old disc jockey Brian Charles also had his charge dropped after the third person implicated in the drug charge, Branford Thomas accepted full responsibility for the importation of the controlled drug.

Today, Basil Williams, who represented The Progress Party at the recently concluded 13 March General Election, held a press conference alongside his attorney Benjamin Hood and expressed his disappointment at the way he was portrayed in the media.

“I think the media could have handled the situation better because there is ethics in everything that you do, including journalism, and like my lawyer said I was only charged – but taking it and running with it like I was absolutely guilty, I felt like the media was trying to make it seem that way. Didn’t you know that I was not required to turn in my travel documents? But that was stated in every media outlet, but that was not true. One of the media outlets said the cost of the marijuana’s street value was under $250,000. That was also not true, because according to the police and the judge, that was $34,000 so that was a magnification of the cost to make it seem like it is a more serious offence. And another media house stated that I sent Jabba to go get the barrel. That was not true.”

Williams says the ordeal was tough, but support from his family and close friends helped him. “The experience itself going through the justice system and spending some time in the cell was not a welcoming experience, but I am grateful that the court did its job and I am found innocent.”

Speaking on behalf of his client, Hood said this was, in fact, an unfortunate incident. “My client had no knowledge of the incident or any barrel being sent in his name, and it is somewhat of an unfortunate situation, but that’s why we have the court system. Despite particular things posted against him we stayed the course and the right decision was made in the end.”

After taking responsibility, Branford Thomas, who was at the time visiting from the United States, was ordered to pay $20,000 on Monday, 28 May 2018 which was to be paid immediately or he would face 2 years at the Richmond Hill Prison.

Since his vindication, Williams says he has embarked on a community outreach campaign within his constituency by engaging schools, health clinics, and local business owners with the view of improving his community.

NOW Grenada is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by contributors. In case of abuse, click here to report.

Tags: basil williamscurlan campbellmarijuanamaurice bishop international airportthe progress partytrafficking
Next Post
LIAT needs subvention

LIAT needs subvention

Comments 1

  1. menace says:
    3 years ago

    Unfortunate incident indeed… Now, who is the “Fall Guy”!!

    Reply

Comment on story Cancel reply

Please enter your valid email address.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Home Sidebar NP 300x250

© NOW Grenada. All Rights Reserved. Published by Aqua Design Inc. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Copyright NOW Grenada

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

NOW Grenada
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.