A 40-year-old Venezuelan man has been sentenced to 19 months in prison after being caught with 2 pounds of cocaine at the V.C. Bird International Airport.
Renzo Eduardo Sanoja was intercepted at the Airport on October 18 by the Police and Customs during a joint drug operation.
During their investigation, it was revealed that Sanoja had ingested a total of 74 cocaine pellets.
Subsequently, Sanoja was transported to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Center, where he later expelled the controlled substance.
He was subsequently slapped with multiple charges, including possession of cocaine, importation of cocaine, being concerned with the supply of cocaine, and possession with intent to transfer a substance valued at EC$63,236.
During his court appearance before Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel this morning, the defendant pleaded guilty to all charges except the latter.
For simple possession, he was reprimanded and discharged. However, for the other two charges, he was sentenced to a total of 9 and a half months in prison.
These sentences will run consecutively, resulting in a cumulative prison term of 19 months.
Further details regarding this case will be provided in tomorrow’s edition of the Daily Observer.