UNITED STATES citizen, Tanasha Le Fleming, 28, was yesterday fined in excess of $49M and was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by City Magistrate Ann McLennan on a drug trafficking charge.

Le Fleming pleaded guilty to the charge that detailed that on December 5, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, East Bank Demerara, he had in his possession 18.295 kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The court heard that on the day in question, at about 09:35 hrs, Le Fleming was an outgoing passenger with Dynamic Airways, bound for the JFK Airport in New York, when ranks from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) stationed at the airport observed that when Le Fleming’s suitcase was placed on the conveyer belt, a strange image emerged. Ranks opened the suitcase and conducted a search in the presence of Le Fleming, and the suspected cocaine was discovered in seven packets of Champion baking powder and five packets of Champion custard powder.

The unrepresented man told the court that ranks at the Police Headquarters have possession of US $300 and Gy$6000 that belong to him; but Police Prosecutor Dinero Jones told the court that the money was confiscated as part of the proceeds.

(Geeta Rampersaud)