Bonaire’s prison
SABA--The Court of First Instance last week sentenced Edric Heyliger (35) to 15 months imprisonment with six months suspended on three years probation for attempting to smuggle 100 grammes (g) of cocaine and 464g of marijuana into Saba via a cargo boat from St. Maarten on August 12.
Saba Customs found the drugs in a freight shipment. The drugs were hidden in or between food items, said police at the time.
The consignment’s recipient, S.M. (41), who is a relative of Heyliger’s, was arrested by the Caribbean Netherlands Police Force KPCN. Heyliger was arrested shortly afterwards and was transferred to Bonaire.
“The import and trade in drugs pose a threat to the small society of Saba and can be accompanied by a lot of nuisance and crime … the use of drugs is harmful to people’s health. This is now also apparent from the fact that the man suffers from psychological complaints due to his drug addiction,” said the prosecutor during the hearing.
Heyliger claimed that the drugs were for his own personal use and not for re-sale.
Heyliger has several convictions for drug-related offences, including a 2019 conviction for marijuana cultivation.
The prosecutor said Heyliger will receive counselling and drug addiction treatment upon his release from prison.
