GEORGETOWN Magistrate Ann McLennan, yesterday, sentenced 25-year-old Hadrick Cummings of Lot 23 John Street, Campbellville to five years imprisonment, and ordered that he pay a fine of $40.5M after he pleaded guilty to an offence of trafficking in narcotics, particulars of which said that on Monday, August 12, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), he had in his possession 15.055 kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. The narcotics were found in a shipment of vegetables destined for the United States of America, and the cocaine was found stuffed in ochroes among vegetables in a cargo bond.

Police Sergeant Neville Jeffers, prosecuting, told the court that the defendant is the registered owner of a business called EBINI Import and Export, located at John Street Campbellville, Georgetown. He said that on the day in question, the defendant went in person to the air cargo agent for Amerijet International, located at the CJIA, where he produced all relevant documents to export 195 boxes of boras, ochroes and egg plants.

Ranks from the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) examined the shipment and found that 99 of the boxes contained the illegal substance. The defendant was told of the offence he had committed, was cautioned and arrested.

He confessed to the crime and admitted that he had conspired with others to do the shipment. In his presence the cocaine was extracted from the ochroes.

The defendant explained that his mother is ill and he does not have money to take care of her sickness, so he decided to take a chance, but was unsuccessful.