Last Monday, Gigi Hadid and a companion pled guilty in the Cayman Islands to charges of smuggling marijuana and utensils for its use.
According to a statement provided by the Cayman Islands’ Customs & Border Control to USA TODAY on Tuesday, the 28-year-old model and her friend Leah McCarthy were fined $1,000 Cayman Islands Dollars after appearing in court on July 12, and no conviction was recorded.
Furthermore, a Cayman Islands Judicial Administration spokesman verified to USA TODAY that Hadid and McCarthy had paid their penalties.
According to Customs & Border Control, Hadid and McCarthy were detained on July 10 after arriving on a private jet and undergoing a baggage check during which “a small amount of marijuana was recovered.” According to court papers acquired by USA TODAY, they were convicted two days later for two offences: importation of a controlled narcotic and importation of a drug utensil.
Owen Roberts International Airport has been contacted for comment by USA TODAY.
Is it legal to bring cannabis to the Cayman Islands?
In an emailed statement to USA TODAY on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Hadid said the model was “travelling with marijuana purchased legally in NYC with a Medical licence.”
“It has also been legal for medical use in Grand Cayman since 2017,” according to Hadid’s representative. “Her record remains clear, and she enjoyed the rest of her time on the island.”
According to the National Drug Council of the Cayman Islands’ 2019 information sheet, “it is illegal to import or export cannabis in any form across the Cayman border.” This applies to all nations, regardless of whether it is legal or not.” This covers items recommended for medical reasons.
While recreational cannabis usage in any form is prohibited in the Cayman Islands, cannabis extracts and traces may be used for therapeutic and medicinal reasons if recommended by a licenced doctor.
Hadid is the most recent celebrity to be caught with marijuana in her possession.
Brittney Griner, WNBA standout and two-time Olympic gold winner, was detained in a high-profile international incident last year for allegedly travelling with drug paraphernalia. Griner was arrested in Moscow in February 2022 for allegedly attempting to import cannabis oil-filled vape cartridges into Russia; she pled guilty five months later.
Despite being sentenced to nine years in a penal colony by a Russian court, she was freed as part of a prisoner exchange 10 months later and returned to the United States in December.
Gigi Hadid in the Cayman Islands: ‘All’s well that ends well’
Hadid came to Instagram on Tuesday to post some vacation photos with the message, “All’s well that ends well.”
The supermodel, who has a 2-year-old daughter Khai with ex-boyfriend Zayn Malik, shared more photographs during her vacation, including one in a swimsuit only a few days after her supposed court appearance.
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