Steven Gelfuso

Date: June 17, 2008
Cruise Bruise: Illegal Drugs Arrest
Bruise Location: Bermuda
Age: 51
Home Town: Rhode Island
Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Lines
Ship: Norwegian Dream
Details: A cruise ship passenger was fined $3,000 for bringing cannabis and cannabis resin into Bermuda.

Steven Gelfuso, 51, of Rhode Island, was arrested after officers searched his cabin and found the drugs. He pleaded guilty to the charges in Magistrates' Court.

The court heard from Crown counsel Michael McColm, that the Seaport Enforcement team along with a security guard and a sniffer dog went aboard the Norwegian Dream on June 17, 2008 looking for drugs.

While the officers were on his deck, Gelfuso opened his cabin door and the sniffer dog reacted. Officers identified themselves to the defendant and asked him if he had any drugs.

Gelfuso said: "Yes, I have a little pot."

Officers found a small black toiletries bag in the closet containing a Ziploc bag with plant-like material, a brown substance and a homemade pipe.

Gelfuso was arrested and taken to the Hamilton Police Station where it was revealed the plantlike material was 1.92 grams of the controlled drug cannabis and the brown substance was 0.10 grams of cannabis resin.

Gelfuso apologized to the court and was fined $1,500 for each drug to be paid immediately.