MONTEGO BAY, St James — A lunchtime security sweep at the Montego Bay Freeport detention centre has landed a 43-year-old man in court after officers say they discovered a pouch of marijuana and tobacco cleverly lodged beneath a dumpling in a takeaway container.
Charges and Plea
Kenneth Richards was brought before Parish Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton on Wednesday, facing three counts: possession of ganja, dealing in ganja, and attempting to introduce a prohibited item into a penal institution. Richards pleaded not guilty to all.
The June 12 Intercept
According to the arrest report, Richards arrived at the lock-up claiming to deliver a home-cooked meal to an inmate. Routine X-ray screening flagged an anomaly in the food box. A physical inspection uncovered an eight-ounce packet—suspected ganja mixed with loose tobacco—tucked under a single dumpling. Officers confiscated the package before it crossed the secure threshold.
Alleged Admission
On being cautioned, Richards allegedly stated, “Mi uncle slip it in, but mi will tek di blame.”
Evidence Gap Delays Proceedings
Prosecutors told the court they are still awaiting two critical documents: a forensic certificate to confirm the substance’s identity and a formal chain-of-custody record. Without them, trial preparations remain on hold.
Judge Fairclough-Hylton adjourned the matter to 30 July for mention and extended Richards’ bail until that date, signalling that the case cannot progress without the outstanding reports.
If verified, the dumpling decoy would mark yet another inventive—though unsuccessful—attempt to funnel narcotics into Jamaica’s correctional system.
