CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday sentenced a man to 58 months imprisonment, after he was found guilty of trafficking over 12 kilos of cocaine in his suitcase at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).Borthram Garnett, a 35-year-old father of a newborn baby had 12.29 kilograms of cocaine in his possession on June 26, 2015, at the CJIA for the purpose of trafficking. Garnett was also ordered to pay a fine of $39,892,000.
The Chief Magistrate in her ruling said that she had considered the mitigating factors in Garnett’s favour, as well as the quantity and street value of the drug. The magistrate also considered the seriousness and prevalence of drug-trafficking in the society.
The court, she said, needed to act so as to deter others from contemplating participation in the drug trade.
According to reports, Garnett was promised US$ 10,000 to traffic the drug out of Guyana and was apprehended by Customs Anti-Narcotics ranks at the airport after he was seen acting in a suspicious manner . The drug was found hidden inside his suitcase and under caution he admitted ownership.