A Spanish national was jailed for ten years yesterday for importing freebase cocaine into Bermuda.

Speaking through a translator, Luis Gomez Paniagua, 47, told the Supreme Court he agreed to import almost $250,000 worth of drugs because he was desperate for cash.

He further admitted “deceiving” his 22-year-old daughter, Pamela Gomez Alonzo, into bringing the drugs into Bermuda during her birthday celebration.

Through Angela McKittrick, his appointed translator, Paniagua told the court: “I only ask that you forgive me so I can start a new life when this has all passed.”

Paniagua, from Spain, pleaded guilty last August to importing the drugs on April 29, 2025.

Paniagua and Ms Alonzo arrived at Heritage Wharf in Dockyard while on board the MSC Meraviglia cruise ship, arriving from the United States.

Customs officers saw the pair carrying an abnormal number of bags for a brief visit to Bermuda and inspected their luggage.

Paniagua explained the bags had clothes for a friend named Francis, who lived in the Canary Islands, and denied carrying weapons, drugs or large sums of money.

Officers found multiple aprons and smaller bags within the luggage, as well as a neck pillow, toilet mats and a toilet seat cover.

Paniagua acted suspiciously when customs officers asked to cut into a pink apron.

Although no illicit substances were found, officers suspected there may have been controlled drugs soaked into the fabrics.

Customs contacted police, who noted a similarities between this circumstance and another situation in March 2024, including the possession of near-identical items.

Paniagua and his daughter were informed of the suspicions and arrested.

He told officers: “This is my daughter, it is her birthday and I gave her the bags to take off.

“She has nothing to do with this; I am the only one responsible.”

Police searched the pair’s cabin and sent items to the police Property Management Unit for testing.

Meanwhile, a white fabric-like material was pulled from between the outer shell and inner lining of a particular bag, as it was common for drug traffickers to soak luggage padding with liquid narcotics and extract it later.

After chemical testing, a government analyst confirmed that about 797 grams of an off-white substance was extracted from the fabric and stuffing.

The substance was about 88 per cent cocaine, present as freebase cocaine, which had a street value of about $249,300.

The analyst hypothesised that the amount of cocaine and the sophistication of the concealment showed the drug was meant for distribution in a scheme involving multiple people.

During a police interview, Paniagua said he moved from his native Dominican Republic to Spain when Ms Alonzo was 4.

He said he returned in October 2024 for the first time since leaving and made arrangements for her to live with him in Spain so they could reconnect.

Paniagua confirmed his daughter had no knowledge of the drugs and was travelling to Bermuda for her birthday.

He further admitted fabricating the story of “Francis” and added he was paid $5,000 to deliver the prepackaged items, although he did not know who was supposed to receive them.

During sentencing, Paniagua said he owed a significant amount of money and later agreed to a former co-worker’s suggestion to import drugs for cash.

He added: “It was so bad that I had to involve my daughter in this.

“I’m extremely remorseful and apologise from my heart to Bermuda and to my daughter.”

Ms Alonzo had previously been charged with conspiracy to import drugs, but the case was dropped upon Paniagua’s admission.

Jonathan White, for the defence, reminded the court that his client pleaded guilty at his earliest availability and had no other offences before this.

He added that, despite his client’s early plea, it took “an unusually long time” for Paniagua to be sentenced.

Mr White called for a reduced sentence because his client, who spoke no English, would have a difficult time in an English-speaking prison.

He described the impact as being “more difficult, more burdensome and more punitive”.

Mr White suggested his client was “no doubt at the bottom of the totem pole” when it came to the operation and that any “sophistication” would have come from the drug packagers.

He added that Paniagua’s involvement of his daughter was not an aggravating factor, but “indicative of what a desperate situation Mr Paniagua was in”.

Mr White said his client was “extraordinarily remorseful” to Bermuda and his family, particularly his daughter.

He said: “I know he is hopeful that it has not ruined a future happy relationship with his daughter, but it no doubt will make it difficult.”

Puisne Judge Alan Richards recognised that drug traffickers often used those without criminal records to carry narcotics into countries.

He said it was the court’s duty to “protect the community from the destructive impact of drugs” and that cocaine importation often garnered a 12-year prison sentence.

However, Mr Justice Richards recognised Paniagua’s early guilty plea and the challenge a language barrier would pose.

Therefore, he sentenced him to ten years behind bars, with his time in custody to be taken into consideration.

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