Michael William Alicea
Date: November 1, 2007
Trial Date: October 31, 2007
Cruise Bruise: Drug Possession
Bruise Location: Bermuda
Age: 42
Home Town: New Jersey
Cruise Line: NCL
Ship: Norwegian Crown
Michael William Alicea
Doper Convicted Of Importing Drugs To Bermuda
Norwegian Crown - November 1, 2007
In a victory for families traveling on cruise ships, a cruise ship passenger was arrested, charged and convicted after smoking marijuana while onboard the Norwegian Crown this week.
Michael William Alicea a plumber who traveled from Hazlet, New Jersey, taking a cruise to Bermuda aboard the Norwegian Crown was convicted of importing 2.64 grams of cannabis and 1.18 grams of methamphetamine to Bermuda.
Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Lines
Ship: Norwegian Crown
Built: 1988 (Crown Odyssey- RCL)
Refurbished: 2003
Registry: Bahamas
Size: 34,000 Gross Tons
Length: 614
Passengers: 1,104
Crew: 525
Webcam: > Here
The court heard testimony that security aboard Norwegian Crown reported there was burning cannabis on one the ship's decks and notified authorities in Bermuda who then boarded the Norwegian Crown as she lay at Pennos Wharf in St. Georges.
When police from Bermuda boarded the vessel they tracked the smell of marijuana that filled the hallway to the smell at the strongest point, which was right outside the cabin door Alicea had booked.
Police knocked on the door, Alicia answered and police say he admitted to having the drugs within the cabin, making a slam dunk case for Bermuda authorities.
Alicea led the officers to a zip-lock packet of the drug in a drawer along with some burnt hand made cigarette stubs.
According to police statements at trial, a further search of the cabin turned up the methamphetamine in two other small zip-lock bags in a pill bottle together with a small straw bearing powder residue.
At that point police say Alicea told them he didn't know the meth was there, but took full responsibility for it.
Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner told Alicea that he was lucky the court was not ordering him to prison for the offenses.
Instead the court levied fines of $2,000 for the marijuana and $4000 for the methamphetamine that was due on the court day. Alicea said he only had $3000 and would have to contact his finance to get the remainder.
It is not known if the finance was aboard the Norwegian Crown during this cruise.
While Bermuda courts typical level heavy fines on drug possession for Americans who end up in their courts, they are weak in cases that direct or indirect responsibility of the cruise lines in other cases.
See this other case that was in the Bermuda courts this week.
QUICK FACTS:
The population of Bermuda is 66,163.
Bermuda has 365 islands.
85% of all visitors are from the USA
Informational government website outlines illegal imports and policy
