Eight Americans were convicted for breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act when they appeared before the St Ann Parish Court on Tuesday, November 29.

The US nationals, including a football player, a daycare worker, a student, and a hairstylist, were arrested at a cruise ship pier in St Ann on November 9, following the seizure of a large quantity of cocaine.

The convicts, who are scheduled to return to court for sentencing on December 2, are all from addresses in Florida. They are:

• Jamari Kitchen, 22, a mover of NW Street, Pompano Beach;
• Kaley Hall, 23, a daycare worker of SW Street, Deerfield Beach;
• Yakine Jones, 23, a student of NW Doctors Plantation;
• Hailey Lawrence, 18, of Sunset Lauderdale;
• Javonte Johnson, 22, a football player of Deerfield Beach;
• Tyshena Brison, 22, of SW Street, Fort Lauderdale;
• Troy Craig, 27, a labourer of SW Street, Fort Lauderdale; and
• Ta’kayla Hooks, 22, a hairstylist of NW Street, Pompano Beach.

Reports from the police are that the eight Americans were arrested after they attempted to smuggle 24 kilograms of cocaine, valuing approximately US$1.2 million, onto a cruise ship from which they had earlier disembarked.

The US nationals pleaded guilty to the charges of possession of cocaine and attempting to export cocaine.