The three Jamaicans who were intercepted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri (CJIA) last Friday after cocaine was discovered in a dartboard, appeared before the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday facing trafficking charges and one was jailed.
The cocaine concealed in the dartboard was estimated to have a street value of US$20,000.
The two men were remanded to prison and the woman was handed a 4-year sentence and a fine of $860,400.
Michelle McKenzie, 28, of Nigrel Post Office, Westmoreland, Jamaica and Gaston Samuels, 38, of Johnson Town, Lucea, Handover, Jamaica were both charged with trafficking in narcotics. Dwayne O’Neil Morris, 28, an entertainer of Paradise Norway, Antigua Bay, Jamaica was charged with aiding and abetting the trafficking in narcotics.
Samuels and Morris pleaded not guilty and McKenzie pleaded guilty when their respective charges were read to them by Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton.
It is alleged that between April 15 and 26 Morris aided and abetted Samuels with the trafficking in narcotics; that is to say 956 grammes of cocaine. Further, it is also alleged that on April 24 at 136 Fifth Street, Alberttown Samuels trafficked 956 grammes of cocaine by giving the same to McKenzie. On April 25 at CJIA McKenzie trafficked a narcotic, that is to say 956 grammes of cocaine by attempting to export the drugs.
The court dealt with the matters of Samuels and Morris first.
Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Oswald
Massiah made an application for bail to be refused since the accused were not from Guyana. His application was subsequently granted and both parties were remanded to prison until July 22 when their trial is due to begin.
According to Massiah, McKenzie who hails from Jamaica “claims” to be a clothes vendor. She entered Guyana on April 15 through the CJIA and stayed at an apartment in Alberttown. On April 25, while processing her travelling document at CJIA, with the intention of departing Guyana via flight BW 404 at 6:30 am to Jamaica via Barbados, Massiah said, she was discovered with the said illegal substance in her possession by a CANU officer.
He said the CANU officer made certain observations about the defendant and as a result he searched her suitcase which was already checked-in and found a box containing a dartboard. Upon further examination of the dartboard the illegal substance was found. This discovery resulted in McKenzie admitting to the knowledge and control of the said substance.
The defendant then told the officer that she was supported by the other two men and they were later charged with their respective offences.
Attorney-at-law Euclin Gomes entered a late appearance on behalf of the three Jamaicans. “The defendant before you,” Gomes began, “appears for a serious charge. She has pleaded guilty to an offence which carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.” He said that the court should “take into consideration that she has not wasted its time.” Gomes further explained to the court that his client has left behind a two-year-old child in Jamaica and she is currently four months pregnant. The attorney asked the court to use its discretion in the matter since the defendant came to Guyana in search of betterment.
Magistrate Octive-Hamilton sentenced the defendant to a four-year sentence and a fine of $900 for each gram of cocaine she was charged with trafficking. “Thank you and enjoy your stay,” were the last words the magistrate said to McKenzie before she was escorted from the courtroom.
