Two charged in Bermuda over 6 kg of cannabis resin and cannabis worth $550,000
Charles Butterfield and Kinte Smith, both 33 and from St George's, were charged in Bermuda's Magistrates' Court with possessing about 6 kg of cannabis resin and cannabis with intent to supply, valued at a total of $550,000. The case went to the Supreme Court, where Butterfield faced two supply counts and Smith one count of handling cannabis resin.
Two men were charged in Bermuda’s Magistrates’ Court on 2 September 2019 with
possessing cannabis and cannabis resin together worth an estimated $550,000.[1]Charles Butterfield, 33, was charged with possessing cannabis and cannabis
resin with intent to supply in St George’s on 20 December 2018.[1]Kinte
Smith, also 33, was charged with possessing cannabis resin in St George’s
between an unknown date and 20 December 2018.[1]
The court heard that the two, both from St George’s, were alleged to have more
than five kilograms of cannabis resin with an estimated street value of
$500,000.[1]It was further alleged that Smith had about one kilogram of
cannabis valued at $50,000.[1]Neither man had to enter a plea because the
case must be heard in the Supreme Court.[1]
Magistrate Maxanne Anderson released the pair on $10,000bail and ordered them
to hand over their passports, adjourning the case to the October arraignments
session at the Supreme Court.[1]Police had searched Butterfield’s home at
Ferry Close in St George’s under a warrant on 20 December 2018, and he told
officers the drugs were his.[2]An analyst found 5,029.2 grams of cannabis
resin and a further 1,005.4 grams of cannabis in heat-sealed packages in the
house, valued in court at $502,950 and $50,250.[2]
Smith was arrested on 22 July 2019 and charged on one count of handling a
controlled drug, namely cannabis resin.[2]On the Supreme Court indictment
Butterfield faced two counts of possessing a controlled drug with intent to
supply, cannabis resin and cannabis, while Smith faced the single handling
count.[2]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
Charged
2
Cannabis
6 kg
Value (official estimate)
BMD 550,000
Agency type
Court
Cannabis
Herbal cannabis (1 kg); Hashish (5 kg)
Activity
Possession, Sale
Setting
Home
Charge
possessing cannabis and cannabis resin with intent to supply
The article gives no date for the charges; 2 September 2019 is used because it says they were charged 'yesterday' and was published on 3 September.
The article dates the offences to 'December 20, 2019' for Butterfield but 'December 20 last year' for Smith; the court ruling shows the search was on 20 December 2018, so 2018 is used.
The weights are given only as 'more than five kilograms' of resin and 'about one kilogram' of cannabis, so 6 kg is an approximate total.
The $550,000 is the sum of the two street values stated in court and is the court's estimate, not a market price.
The 1 kg figure can be read as Smith's alleged cannabis or as a total for the two men; it is recorded as an approximate total here.
The reports give no plea, trial date or outcome after the ruling on the dismissal application.
Yemariam Teshome, 21, of Ontario, pleaded not guilty in Bermuda's Supreme Court to conspiring to import more than $1 million of cannabis into the island between an unknown date and 21 June 2026, and to possessing it with intent to supply. A judge set a mention for 11 December and a fixed trial date of 15 February.
Josephine Limberopoulis, 34, and her husband Salih Burns, 32, of Paget deny having cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply, after allegedly being found with almost 69 grams of cannabis and five grams of cocaine in Pembroke. A Bermuda magistrate released both on $8,000 bail until 15 October.
A Bermuda Supreme Court jury unanimously acquitted Sandra Marrero-Guzman, 37, of conspiring to import cannabis and possessing it with intent to supply after customs found 12,876 grams of the drug in her suitcase at LF Wade International Airport in June 2025. The Crown had valued the haul at $1.3 million.
David Mathias, 67, and Danielle Mathias, 36, were charged in Bermuda's Magistrates' Court with importing cannabis and THC or shatter allegedly brought in on 10 May 2020, which the Crown valued at an estimated $6.2 million. Neither had to plead because the case goes to the Supreme Court; both were freed on $50,000 bail to the May arraignments.