Two brothers from Vauxhall, Christ Church, have pleaded guilty to serious drug-related offenses and have been granted bail ahead of their sentencing.
Michael Vincent Edward Farnum, 36, and Richard Edward Farnum, 34, of 1st Avenue, Vauxhall, appeared before Magistrate Deidra McKenna at the Oistins Magistrates’ Court on Monday, May 12, 2025. The charges stem from a major drug bust conducted by law enforcement authorities just days earlier.
Michael Farnum faced three charges: possession of cannabis, possession with intent to supply, and trafficking. He was found with 2,200 grams of cannabis, which police estimate to have a street value of $8,800. He entered guilty pleas to all counts and was granted bail in the sum of $6,000. His sentencing has been scheduled for Friday, May 16, 2025.
Richard Farnum, who faced similar but more severe charges, was found with 47.34 kilograms of cannabis during the same police operation. The drugs have an estimated street value of $189,360. He, too, pleaded guilty and was granted bail in the amount of $90,000. Like his brother, he is expected to return to court on May 16 for sentencing.
Earlier Incident
The charges followed a police operation on Friday, May 9, 2025, conducted by the Serious Organized Crime Unit of the Barbados Police Service. The raid took place at the brothers’ residence in Vauxhall, Christ Church. Acting on intelligence, the unit carried out a search which led to the discovery of the illegal substances.
Following the discovery, both Michael and Richard Farnum were arrested and taken into custody. The charges brought against them include possession of cannabis, possession with intent to supply, and trafficking in cannabis—serious offenses under Barbados’ drug laws.
Initially, the two were expected to appear before Chief Magistrate Ian Weeks at the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on Monday. However, their cases were brought before Magistrate McKenna at the Oistins Magistrates’ Court, where they entered guilty pleas.
The brothers are now awaiting sentencing later this week. Given the quantities of drugs involved, particularly in Richard’s case, the court's decision is anticipated to be significant. Both men remain on bail until their next court appearance.
The case has drawn public interest due to the scale of the operation and the amount of cannabis seized. It also underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to tackle drug-related offenses across the island.
