Cocaine smuggler likely to have her baby here

A pregnant Barbados national who was jailed for importing cocaine is unlikely to be deported until after her baby is born.

Alphia Rawlins, 29, was jailed on October 18 for six months after she admitted importing 536.5 grams of cocaine on June 25. She had been in custody since her arrest.

We understand a deportation order was served on Rawlins, but it was decided that she is unable to travel so far in her pregnancy.

Senior Magistrate Archibald recommended Rawlins be deported back to Barbados “as soon as practical”.

Her lawyer Marc Daniels confirmed yesterday that his client would have her baby in Bermuda as she cannot fly.

Costs

In court Mr Warner said: “In all the circumstances including the defendant’s personal circumstance, in particular that the defendant is pregnant and is due to deliver soon and the associated costs with the situation, the appropriate sentence is six months imprisonment from the 25th of June.

“Secondly, it is recommended that the defendant be deported as soon as practical.”

In court, Mr Daniels said it was unclear when she was due, but suggested sometime next month.

Pregnant women aren’t advised to travel after the seventh month of pregnancy.

During her hearing, the court heard Rawlins arrived in Bermuda from Toronto that day and after a search of her luggage, customs officers found cocaine in her small black carry-on suitcase.

The bag had a false bottom and officers found a plastic bag filled with an off-white powder.

Rawlins was arrested and taken to the Airport Police Station. Two days later, she gave a “no comment” interview with her lawyer present.

Cocaine

At the hearing, Crown counsel Cindy Clarke told the court the amount of cocaine seized was 536.5 grams, which could be sold on the streets in Bermuda for between $57,000 to $129,000 depending on how it is packaged.

Mr Daniels, mitigating for Rawlins, requested pre-sentencing reports but Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner thought they weren’t needed.

Note: A court cannot order the deportation of a defendant but can recommend to the Governor that a defendant be deported. Ultimately, the decision lies with the Governor.