AN American trafficker was jailed while another drug defendant was granted bail when they both appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton yesterday.

The United States citizen, Joseph Michael Moore, 24, was sentenced to four years imprisonment for being in possession of a narcotic for the purpose of trafficking.

The music engineer, who pleaded guilty to having 795 grammes of cocaine for the purpose, at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, East Bank Demerara, on July 19, was also fined $715,000.

Police Inspector Stephen Telford, prosecuting, said Moore was an outgoing passenger on a Delta Airlines Flight bound for John F. Kennedy Airport when the drug was found in the sole of the shoes he was wearing and a pair of sandals in his luggage.

Attorney-at-law Mr. Patrice Henry, who represented the convict, said Moore had come to Guyana for the first time, for sight seeing, but ended up in the wrong company.

The Court also ordered that Moore be deported immediately on the expiration of his sentence.

The other defendant, Alex Sobers, 18, of Lot 29 West La Penitence, pleaded not guilty to having 10 grammes of cannabis (marijuana), on July 20, in Rosemary Lane, South Cummingsburg (Tiger Bay), another part of Georgetown.

The labourer was released on $35,000 bond and will make his next Court appearance on November 18.