Government of Antigua & Barbuda
Media Release
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua (GIS) — On Tuesday 20th, May 2014, the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP) detained Robert Barrington Goldson, a 50 year old Jamaican born British citizen, while attempting to board a flight destined to the United Kingdom. Goldson appeared unwell and was taken to the Mount St. John’s Medical Centre where an X-ray revealed the objects in his stomach. Over a period of days Goldson expelled 86 pellets of cocaine weighing 650 grams with an estimated street value of EC $22,815.00.
On Tuesday 27th, May 2014 Goldson appeared before Magistrate Clarke where he pleaded guilty to Possession of Cocaine, Possession Of Cocaine with Intent to Transfer, Being Concerned In The Supply Of Cocaine and Attempting To Export Cocaine. Goldson will serve 18 months for each charge to run concurrently in Her Majesty’s Prison 1735.
This incident comes on the heel of the arrest of another British National who fell ill after departing Antigua on 16th May, 2014 on board a flight destined to the United Kingdom. The flight was then diverted to Bermuda where it was later revealed that the passenger had also ingested cocaine pellets.
The use of swallowers (ingestion of pellets containing illegal drugs) although not new to law enforcement, appears to be one of the recent trends utilised by drug traffickers to transport illegal substances through the V.C. Bird International Airport.