From the Courts
April 17, 2014

Sailor sentenced to 14 years for possession of cocaine

A Vincentian sailor who was jailed for 14 years in the Cayman Islands for cocaine possession, will continue serving his sentence after the Court of Appeal dismissed his application for a reduced sentence on April 9.{{more}}

According to an article from the Cayman News Service, Seaford Laborde was jailed in February 2012, after being caught dealing cocaine on the streets of George Town.

The article stated that Laborde, who was working on the Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas, was convicted of possessing over two pounds of cocaine, with intent to supply, after he was caught in March 2011 by an undercover police officer investigating reports of drug smuggling on cruise ships.

His attorney argued that Laborde’s sentence was excessive, as he was a mule rather than a street dealer.

The article further stated that Laborde’s lawyer argued that her client had no previous convictions and had worked aboard cruise ships for more than 15 years.

She also said Laborde is a foreigner and that he was miles away from his family in St Vincent where his wife and children, who cannot visit him, remain.