BRIANNA Rodney, a 25-year-old American citizen was yesterday sentenced to four years imprisonment and fined $30,000 on conviction for drug trafficking.

Before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, who imposed the penalties, the American citizen pleaded guilty to having 4.130 kilogrammes of cocaine, on Wednesday, July 3.
At the time, she was an outgoing passenger at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, on Caribbean Airlines Flight BW 526, destined for the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.
Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) special prosecutor Oswald Massiah told the Court that the convict gave her home address as 2121 Westburg Port, Brooklyn.
She claimed to have social issues to deal with at home and it was observed, on her passport that she previously visited Guyana on two occasions, the last being on March 12, and during her stay here, she was associated with other Guyanese and stayed at different addresses, the most recent being a hotel on Sheriff Street, Georgetown.
For the period of her visit, she made arrangements with some Guyanese to take the illegal substances to the U.S. for a fee “after it cannon”, meaning the successful movement, the prosecutor explained.
He stated, further, that on the day she was busted, Rodney arrived at the CJIA checked in at the desk with the suitcase she packed, which was given to her with the key. While at the terminal, the CANU officer on duty scanned and observed the strange objects in a false bottom containing six packs of the prohibited substance.

ACCEPTED OWNERSHIP
Massiah said, after being summoned, she accepted ownership and was told of the offence and later taken into custody at CANU Headquarters, where she voluntarily gave the details.
After advice had been sought, she was subsequently charged, he related.
Rodney said: “I was fully aware of what I was carrying and what I had in my possession.”
She apologised and explained that she saw an opportunity and took it, adding that she and her mother are the main providers for their family, also comprising her grandmother, two brothers and a sister.
The Chief Magistrate asked her if she has ever been in trouble with the law before and after she responded in the negative, the Court took into consideration the fact that the latter has no prior conviction, had pleaded guilty at first opportunity as well as the prevalence and seriousness of the offence.

CO-ACCUSED REMANDED
Meanwhile, Andre Gonsalves of Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara, yesterday, pleaded not guilty to the charge of possession of narcotics [cocaine] for the purpose of trafficking when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
It is alleged that he provided the 4.130 kilogrammes of cocaine to Brianna Rodney. His matter was transferred to another court room during the day. However, when the accused appeared before Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan, he was remanded until July 15.