A Canadian national has walked free after being cleared of smuggling $1.3 million of cannabis into Bermuda.

A Supreme Court was unanimous after nearly five hours’ deliberation in finding Sandra Marrero-Guzman, 37, not guilty of conspiring with others to bring cannabis into the country and possessing the controlled drug with intent to supply on June 20, 2025.

The trial, before Puisne Judge Juan Wolffe, heard how the visitor, described as a sex worker due to meet clients during her proposed weeklong stay on the island, had brought a suitcase filled with nearly 13 kilograms of the drug.

A mystery character, named during the proceedings as “Anton”, had arranged the trip for Ms Marrero-Guzman. The prosecution claimed she was here to act as a drugs mule and provide her services to wealthy clients.

However, she was stopped by customs at LF Wade International Airport after the suitcase was scanned and showed anomalies. Officers had to break the case’s combination lock with bolt cutters, since she was unable to provide the code.

Ms Marrero-Guzman maintained her innocence throughout the trial and insisted she had believed the luggage contained designer clothes.

Susan Mulligan, for the defence, asked the jury if they had ever brought items back for trusted relatives, arguing that her client had no knowledge of what was actually in the suitcase.

Ms Mulligan maintained that, as an experienced traveller, Marrero-Guzman would have been fully aware of the consequences and would not have risked imprisonment.

She added: “We don’t want to convict someone who comes into Bermuda and didn’t know that they had the drugs. Was she duped, naive or had fallen for this guy and believed what he said?

“You have to be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt. You have read it, you have heard it so that’s for you to decide.”

Prosecutor Khadija Beddeau had contended Marrero-Guzman was burdened with “considerable” debt, approaching $20,000.

The jury heard she had only $100 on her credit card and had been offered $7,000 by “Anton” to be his courier and carry the case into Bermuda.

While she was questioned on the stand, Ms Marrero-Guzman confirmed to the prosecutor the presence of an insider at the airport to get the case through.

The suitcase contained a total of 12,876 grams of cannabis inside 29 heat-sealed packages with the street value of $1.3 million.

Ms Marrero-Guzman was visibly emotional as jurors delivered the verdict and she was dismissed from the court.

This was her second Supreme Court trial for the offences, as the first one resulted in jurors being discharged.

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