Kavita Persaud, the woman who was arrested after her daughter was found with over five pounds of cocaine in her handbag at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri was yesterday sentenced to four years in jail after she took responsibility for the drugs.
Persaud, 40, also known as ‘Natasha,’ admitted that on February 14th, 2018, at the CJIA, she trafficked 2.660 kilogrammes (equivalent to 5.8 pounds) of cocaine.
Persaud and her daughter, Rachel Narine, of Lot 55 Ramsingh Street, Annandale, East Coast Demerara, were jointly charged last Friday with the offence. The charge against Narine was yesterday withdrawn after Persaud’s decision to plead guilty.
Persaud told the Georgetown court of Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan thatshe is a single mother and was desperate for shelter for her children. She then broke down in tears and stated that she didn’t know what she was thinking.
It was previously reported that Narine, 19, was an outbound passenger destined for the United States when Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit ranks made the discovery of suspected cocaine concealed in her handbag during a security check.
Chief Magistrate McLennan considered the guilty plea and the prevalence of the offence before then sentencing the woman to four years in prison and fining her $7,182,000, which is equivalent to three times the value of the narcotic.
