Kimmesha Hutchinson to Stand Trial Over $480,000 Marijuana Shipment Found at Deep Water Harbour

A woman accused of importing 80 pounds of marijuana valued at $480,000 through Deep Water Harbour is scheduled to stand trial in the High Court today, more than three years after the drugs were allegedly discovered in a barrel shipped in her name.

Kimmesha Hutchinson, who is in her 30s, is facing proceedings stemming from the April 2023 discovery, which reportedly occurred when she visited the port to clear the shipment.

According to reports, Hutchinson had recently arrived in Antigua from the United States when she went to Deep Water Harbour on April 26, 2023, to collect a barrel addressed to her.

During the clearance process, police reportedly discovered approximately 80 pounds of marijuana inside the barrel, with an estimated street value of $480,000.

The discovery prompted further investigations, leading police to obtain a search warrant for Hutchinson's residence on Old Parham Road.

On April 27, 2023, officers accompanied Hutchinson to the property, where members of the narcotics department conducted a search.

During the operation, which reportedly took place around 10:30 a.m., officers searched a bedroom and discovered a black laptop bag positioned on top of a closet.

Inside the bag, investigators allegedly found an Amazon package containing a white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine.

The substance reportedly weighed approximately two pounds and carried an estimated street value of $31,000.

Following that discovery, Hutchinson was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of cocaine, being concerned with the supply of cocaine, and possession of cocaine with intent to transfer.

She denied all three charges and was expected to stand trial in connection with the alleged cocaine discovery.

However, the current status of those proceedings remains unclear.

The marijuana case is now scheduled to come before the High Court, where the allegations surrounding the shipment discovered at Deep Water Harbour are expected to be examined.

The two matters arise from separate discoveries made during the police investigation, and the pending status of the cocaine case does not establish any finding of guilt.