LESS than a day after two alleged drug smugglers were charged with trafficking cocaine, Berkeley Ferdinand was added to the list after he was busted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri attempting to smuggle cocaine in Banko wine bottles to New York.

Ferdinand, 47, of South Sophia was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment along with a fine of $4.8M after he confessed to the drug trafficking charge which alleged that on Friday, December 16 at CJIA he had 1.790 kilograms of cocaine in his possession.

According to Custom Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) prosecutor Kunyo Sandiford on the day in question Ferdinand was an outgoing passenger on Caribbean Airliner BW 526, destined for JFK airport, New York.

The prosecutor noted that the man checked in at the airport and placed his suitcase to be tagged and scanned. A CANU officer’s suspicion was raised when she noticed strange images in the suitcase. The officer approached the man and conducted a search on his suitcase. Two Banko wine bottles were removed from the said suitcase and opened. Ferdinand was arrested and taken to CANU headquarters where he told investigators that he was under pressure and took a chance to carry the drug. He also explained that he was given the two bottles of Banko laced with cocaine by someone to deliver to New York and was promised US $2,500.

“Ah sorry I do it” the man told the magistrate as he begged for mercy. The magistrate sentenced Ferdinand to 3 years’ imprisonment along with a fine of $4.8M.

Berkeley is the brother of local singer, Mark Ferdinand, who was arrested and charged in the United States for cocaine trafficking in 2015. He was released and deported after striking a deal with US Prosecutors.