Venezuelan man jailed for importing cocaine, says he was forced

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Renzo Eduardo Sanoja at court.
Renzo Eduardo Sanoja being taken to His Majesty’s Prison
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By Latrishka Thomas

[email protected]

For one individual, the next 19 months will be a period of hardship as a result of an apparent lapse in judgment.

Renzo Eduardo Sanoja, a 40-year-old Venezuelan man who had ingested two pounds of cocaine and attempted to smuggle it into Antigua, is now incarcerated at His Majesty’s Prison after confessing to his wrongdoing.

The incident unfolded on October 18 around 3.45pm when officers from the Narcotics Department and Customs Task Force were on duty at the VC Bird International Airport. They received information that led them to Sanoja, who was suspected of smuggling drugs into the country.

Sanoja had arrived in Antigua on an InterCaribbean flight originating from Guyana.

Following his apprehension, he was taken into custody and brought to a hospital for examination. An X-ray revealed the presence of pellets in his abdomen. Over a two-day observation period, Sanoja expelled a total of 74 pellets containing a white powdery substance, which was later determined to be cocaine.

As a result of this discovery, the defendant was hit with multiple charges, including possession of cocaine, importation of cocaine, being involved in the supply of cocaine, and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to transfer, with an estimated value of EC$63,236.

During his court appearance in the All Saints Magistrates Court, the defendant, whose eyes were black and blue from reportedly being beaten by a cellmate, pleaded guilty to all charges except the latter which was subsequently dropped.

Through a translator, he explained to the court, “I didn’t want to do this. I was forced and threatened with my family. They were sending me pictures saying that they were going to kill them.”

In response, Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel reprimanded and discharged Sanoja for the drug possession charge. However, for the other two offences he admitted to, he was sentenced to nine and a half months in prison for each.

These sentences will run consecutively, resulting in a cumulative prison term of 19 months.

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