Kimmesha Hutchinson, who is in her 30s, is facing High Court proceedings stemming from the April 2023 discovery when she visited the port to clear a shipment.[1] Hutchinson had recently arrived in Antigua from the United States when she went to Deep Water Harbour on April 26, 2023, to collect a barrel addressed to her.[1] During clearance police reportedly discovered approximately 80 pounds of marijuana inside the barrel, with an estimated street value of $480,000.[1] A second account confirms she faces charges relating to the marijuana, valued at $480,000, found in a barrel shipped to Antigua in her name.[2]
After the port discovery police obtained a search warrant for Hutchinson’s residence on Old Parham Road.[1] On April 27, 2023, officers accompanied Hutchinson to the property, where narcotics officers conducted a search.[1] During that search narcotics officers reportedly found a black laptop bag on top of a bedroom closet at about 10:30 a.m.[2] Inside the bag was an Amazon package containing a white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine.[2] That substance reportedly weighed two pounds and was valued at $31,000.[2]
Following that discovery Hutchinson was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of cocaine, being concerned with its supply, and possession with intent to transfer.[1] She denied all three cocaine charges.[1] The current status of the separate cocaine proceedings remains unclear.[1] On May 8, 2023, Hutchinson appeared before Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh in the St. John’s Magistrates’ Court on a charge of possession of 80 pounds of marijuana.[3] Police also arrested and charged her with possession with intent to transfer, being concerned in supplying cannabis, importation of cannabis and drug trafficking.[3] Those cannabis offences reportedly occurred on April 26 at Deep Water Harbour.[3] After the second drug charge she was remanded to prison, with bail available only in the High Court.[3]
