Ganja seized from suspect passenger
Immigration Officer Darcia Branch
(CNS): An American passenger going through the airport last week ended up in jail becaause he appeared to have what officials said was a “peculiar travel pattern”. The visitor was searched by customs officers after they were alerted by Immigration Officer Darcia Branch, whose suspicions had been raised. As a result, a small quantity of ganja was found on the visitor, who was arrested and taken into custody.
Illustrating the importance of law enforcement officers working together, Acting Deputy Chief Immigration Officer Tamara Reid-Vernon said success in this case required a collaborative effort with the customs department.
“As law enforcement agencies responsible for border protection, we share a joint responsibility and work closely together at our ports to achieve our common goals,” she said, adding that “tangible results” demonstrate the continued effort made to strengthen the security of the islands.
Officer Darcia Branch credited her training for being able to spot the suspicious passenger.
“As officers, many of us develop an instinct in relation to certain behaviors,” she said. “I paid close attention to the details the passenger provided, and with my training and skills I was able to identify the passenger as someone whom I should take extra precautions with.”
Headline : Another person does job adequately that they are employed to do !
After the spectacular story of the police officer who chased down and actually caught a shoplifter we now can report that a second person has been reported to have done what they are employed to do .
Next week , garbage collecter collects garbage ! Says he is no hero as he accepts medal….
Wow! Stop the Press!!!!
Let us be real! This passenger was on his out to i think the USA. In the USA now (Fla.) there is impending legislation to be approved for the personal use of certain amounts of the weed. There is bigger fish to fry and that go unnoticed. Believe it or not the weed will one day be free in the Cayman Islands (certain amounts for personal usage). Go after the boat load of weed that enter our shores regularly….
Why do we criticise our own so easily and readily. I was raised in the UK but am from the Caribbean. Lived in Cayman for over 20 years then moved to another Caribbean Island and I travel extensively. Each time I travelled I was sure to be pulled aside, bag drug tested, patted down etc – this in the USA. I took it upon myself to write to Homeland Security to ask why and they advised that the reason for that was that my travel pattern raised alarm but having received my letter, with my credentials,(for you critics there is a lot more but I cannot write the whole book here) I have not experienced such searches since. So perhaps we need to realise that some behaviour is suspicious because of Security Intelligence and I would rather they checked rather than let the wrong person through. After all, the terrorists know how to go around the system by coming to Cayman where they think we are lax then go back to USA – or whereever to do their dirty work. So shut up and thank God there are people trained and astute enough to keep us safe. Today it may be a lil ganja tomorrow – who knows? Thank you Ms Branch!
PS: I have seen passengers arrive and although the signs say no cell phone use, whip out their phones and talk loudly. I bet they would not try that in the USA so it simply means we have less respect for the local authorities but nuff respect to the big boys overseas! Go figure
This is laughable, I bet it didn’t even amount to a spliff’s worth. Why don’t they focus on the real schedule one drugs like coke, meth and heroin. Leave the weed alone!
As a result, a small quantity of ganja was found on the visitor, who was arrested and taken into custody.
LOL! Bet they are so proud of themselves for confiscating a little bit of a natural plant. Wake me up when they actually do something good and catch the harder drugs like cocaine that are easily passing through our borders.
Small amounts and marijuana should be allowed. Also cultivation for personal use.
Free the weed!
Thank you immigration and customs. You make us proud. Don’t be discouraged by these negative posters.
They really don’t know anything else to do. Complain complain. Most are jealous because you get to live in paradise.
Wow. There is no pleasing you people. If they didn’t catch “a small amount” I guess you would’ve said they aren’t doing anything at all. Or that they ARENT TRAINED. Funny thing is, if anything happens those are the first comments passed. But now that something, (no matter how miniscule) is note worthy, the majority still have discouraging remarks.
Job well done officers. Some of us still commend your hard work and efforts.
Hopefully the real reason to stop and search this passenger related more to his behaviour (suspicious perhaps) than to his “peculiar travel pattern”. Gazillions of passengers worldwide travel in what might seem peculiar patterns to some but for legitimate and honest reasons – work perhaps?
Wonder if this means that Immigration Officers will tip-off Customs for every passenger who has varied and multiple stamps in their passports – i.e “peculiar” travel patterns?
It says everything when the Immigration and Customs Depts are highlighting finding one small personal use ganja. That is the best they can do????? What about all major stuff, on the boats and planes. This is not news and just shows how cr*p they are. How many illegals are on Island, now that would be news catching them. For all the criticism, the only law enforcement group doing anything worthwhile in this area are the RCIPS. Can you imagine the barrage of comments if the police highlighted an officer that stopped someone with a spliff and said it was down to his training? They do that every day, not once a millenium.
The picture of the law enforcement officer on the face of the article is very misleading, she appears to be the suspect!!
It is ironic that this interagency collaboration and back-patting is a headline today while the easily reconciled warrant list drifts unaddressed for YEARS! Dear Border Protection, why can’t you take 20 mins and work together on that?
Thought the passengers photo would have been shown not the Officer. No big deal that’s only her job . Anyhow in the Cayman Islands you usually gets awards for paid jobs. Also this is exposing the poor girl for enemies.
what an accomplishment, a canoe came in the same night in east end
He forget to give the secret word in patois and wear dreds at immigration. Front metal crowns would have earned him a cut in line and no search. Respect.
Ha Ha
Jail time for the bull$#!+ “Reggie bush” they have here on island, what a travesty.
This is interesting-for my job I have to travel a lot and to some “interesting” places-and I always get a lot more scrutiny when I go to those places, even though I have not and will not do anything wrong…
The passenger had a “small amount of ganja” woopdy doo – not quite the bust of the century.
Don’t be a killjoy.
These officers work hard and I really don’t appreciate your comment. I for one was pulled in by Customs in Miami because I had made three trips in six weeks, however I welcomed the secondary search as I had nothing to hide. Well done officers it is small cases that helps get the bigger cases.
Lol I was just thinking the same…so every time a cop grabs a teen with a “small amount” of ganja he can credit it to his training……
what do the consider a “peculiar travel pattern”??? But they didn’t have pounds?? a small quantity (how small)…..so…don’t think they were mules…