A THIRTY-FIVE-year-old businesswoman was, on Friday, sentenced to four years in jail and fined $5.6 million, for trafficking over five pounds of cocaine in 2017.

Joy Jacqueline Caines, a boutique owner, in February, was found guilty by Magistrate Dylon Bess for having 2.092 kilograms of cocaine in her possession for the purpose of trafficking on April 16, 2017 at Lot 232 Lockoo Street, Lodge.

During Thursday’s sentencing hearing, Caines brought witness to the court to testify on her being a good citizen and a mother. The magistrate however, after considering the nature of the offence, sentenced Caines to serve four years jail along with a fine of $5,667,228. The woman’s attorney, Nigel Hughes, signalled that he will be appealing the sentence and conviction of his client.

He also made an application for bail pending appeal, but it was denied by Magistrate Bess.
According to CANU Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford, on April 16, 2017, 56-year-old Bernadette Warren was arrested at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), with almost two kilograms of cocaine in her suitcase. After Warren was arrested at the airport, she implicated Caines as the person who gave her the illegal substance. The CANU ranks visited Caines’ house, conducted a search and found an empty suitcase with false walls that contained cocaine; the illegal substance was also found in the kitchen and on the stove.

The court also heard that a large quantity of cash, amounting to $14.5M and other foreign currency were also found inside Caines’ house. Warren, who threw herself at the mercy of the court during her first appearance confessed to the crime and was sentenced to three years imprisonment and fined $4M.