Police in Bermuda have charged a man and woman from Ontario with importing fentanyl into the country after the pair were hospitalized last month when the woman’s family says she was “forced to ingest” the drug against her will.
The Bermuda Police Service confirmed to Global News that Jacqueline Robinson, 25, and Craig Lawrence, 35, were arrested on suspicion of importing fentanyl after the pair were hospitalized on Dec. 20 following a “medical emergency” at the Hamilton Princess hotel.
Bermuda newspaper The Royal Gazette reported Robinson is from Courtice, Ont., and Lawrence is from Markham, Ont. The newspaper also reported it was the first time the drug had turned up in the small island nation of about 65,000 people.
READ MORE: Canadian couple charged for allegedly importing, exporting fentanyl
A GoFundMe online fundraising campaign started by her family said Robinson was on vacation in Bermuda with a man she had met just prior to the trip and was supposed to return Dec. 20.
When she didn’t come home as planned, the family contacted the hotel Robinson was staying in two days later and found out she was “drugged” with a substance that was later determined to be fentanyl.
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“Jackie was rushed to King Edward Hospital in Hamilton, Bermuda, our daughter almost died on the way to the hospital and is still in the ICU,” her father Thom Robinson, of Scarborough, said on the online fundraising page.
“I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the medical staff there as they saved our daughter’s life although she is not out of the woods yet.”
READ MORE: Ontario man charged with importing ‘bootleg’ fentanyl into Canada from China
The family started the online fundraiser to ask for help paying for “astronomical” medical costs and raised $3,610 before the fundraiser ended.
“I plan to fly to Bermuda and bring our Daughter home as soon as it is possible,” Thom Robinson said.
“We are all truly devastated by this event and what our family is going through right now is unimaginable.”
Bermuda police spokesperson Robin Simmons II said in an email to Global News Jacqueline Robinson and Lawrence appeared in court Thursday.
READ MORE: Brampton, Ont. man arrested, charged with illegally importing Fentanyl
Robinson was charged with importing a controlled drug while Lawrence was charged with importing a controlled drug and possession with intent to supply.
Police said the Canadians did not enter a plea and they were remanded into custody until their next court appearance Feb. 1.
Police also said in a Dec. 22 statement that Robinson was in stable condition in an intensive care unit as a result of the medical emergency at the hotel, while Lawrence was recovering in a general ward and was receiving treatment stemming from the same medical incident.
Global Affairs Canada said the government is “aware of the detention of Canadian citizens in Bermuda and is providing consular assistance.” Robinson’s family declined a request for comment.
Anybody with information is asked to contact Det.-Sgt. David Bhagwan at 441-295-0011 or contact the confidential Crime Stoppers Bermuda hotline at 1-800-623-TIPS (8477).
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