A forgetful moment at the airport turned into a court appearance and a fine for a pregnant American woman who was caught with cannabis in her luggage while preparing to leave Antigua last month.

Keishell Labeach, 40, was stopped at the V.C. Bird International Airport on March 25th after security personnel at the oversized baggage area flagged a concern. Officers who responded found several containers — two transparent bags, three capsules, and two Ziploc bags — all carrying cannabis. In total, the haul weighed 163.4 grams and carried a street value of $1,634.

Labeach, who is of Antiguan parentage and was in the country visiting family, entered a guilty plea before Chief Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel. Her attorney, Wendel Alexander, urged the court toward leniency, explaining that his client had simply forgotten the cannabis was packed away in her suitcase. He also drew the court’s attention to the fact that Labeach is four months pregnant.

The mitigating circumstances were heard, but the fine still came. The court ordered Labeach to pay $3,000 within 14 days — or face six months behind bars. The cannabis was confiscated.