A CONSTRUCTION worker who ingested 72 cocaine pellets to smuggle to Barbados, was sentenced to three years in prison and fined $1.5M for the offence of trafficking in narcotics.
Randolph Muir, 32, known as ‘Roach’ of Enterprise, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, on Wednesday admitted before City Magistrate, Fabayo Azore, that between June 8, and June 19, 2017 at the Woodlands Hospital, Georgetown, he had 592 grams of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford told the court that on June 8, 2017, the defendant was an outgoing passenger on a LIAT flight destined to Barbados. However, while checking in at the Eugene F Correia International Airport at Ogle, ECD, a CANU rank observed him acting in a suspicious manner at the scanning area.
As a result, Muir was taken off the plane and taken to the Woodlands Hospital, where he underwent an X-ray scan which showed he had ingested strange objects. Muir was given a laxative to assist in him excreting the objects; he passed a total of 72 cocaine- filled pellets between June 8 and the wee-hours of June 9.
The prosecutor disclosed that Muir had assisted CANU with its investigation and told ranks that he was promised US$1,700 to traffic the drugs. The court was told by his attorney, Davina Persaud, that Muir is the sole breadwinner for his three minor kids.
After reviewing the charge, Magistrate Azore sentenced him to three years imprisonment and imposed a fine of $1.5M. (Clestine Juan)
