Barbados law enforcement has transferred an undocumented Jamaican national to immigration authorities following his guilty plea on a minor cannabis possession charge, in a case that highlights ongoing enforcement of both drug and immigration rules across the Caribbean nation.
Twenty-eight-year-old Romoy Odaine Rhoomes, a mason residing at Westbury Road, St. Michael, appeared before acting Magistrate Shakieda Sealy at Bridgetown’s District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. During the hearing, Rhoomes formally admitted he was in unlawful possession of two grams of cannabis, an offense that allegedly occurred the previous day along Baxter’s Road in the capital.
The incident unfolded when uniformed police officers on routine patrol near a local street stall noticed a pungent, distinct odor of marijuana emanating from the area. Turning their attention to the source of the scent, officers spotted Rhoomes standing at the rear of the stall, frantically discarding items from his pockets before breaking into a run toward nearby Reed Street.
Responding immediately, officers first retrieved the discarded items, which turned out to be two small sealed Ziploc bags, before initiating a foot pursuit of the suspect. Once officers caught up with and detained Rhoomes, they presented the recovered bags to him to confirm ownership, but he immediately denied any connection to or knowledge of the illicit substance. He was taken into police custody following the encounter for formal processing.
By the time his case reached the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court, however, Rhoomes opted to accept full responsibility for the possession offense. Beyond the drug charge, prosecuting officials shared key immigration records with Magistrate Sealy that revealed critical additional context: Rhoomes had entered Barbados on February 1, 2024, and had never completed the required steps to legalize or regularize his immigration status in the country.
After the guilty plea was entered, the court handed down a reprimand and discharge for the minor cannabis possession offense, but immediately ordered Rhoomes to be taken into official custody by Barbados Immigration officials for processing related to his undocumented status.