Computer technician jailed for cocaine in suitcase
A computer technician who was caught at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport trying to smuggle a quantity of cocaine to Bermuda, was sentenced to three years in prison and fined $4.1 million after he pleaded guilty to the offence in a city court.
Colin McEwan, 36, of Lot 356 Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara pleaded guilty to a charge which stated that on December 15, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, he had in his possession, 1.536 kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. The charge was read to McEwan by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford Thompson told the court that the accused was an outgoing passenger on a Caribbean Airlines flight destined to Bermuda when he was apprehended. She said his luggage was scanned by a CANU officer who observed a suspicious image on the scanner. The officer further examined the suitcase by using a metal probe to pierce its walls and found a white substance suspected to be cocaine.
The prosecutor said the accused was told of the offence and arrested. He was subsequently taken to CANU Headquarters where he gave the officers a caution statement.
Attorney Gordon Gilhuys, who represented McEwan, told the court that his client admitted to the facts that were presented by the prosecution and did not waste the investigators and the courts time.
Chief Magistrate McLennan subsequently sentenced McEwan to three years in jail and fined him $4,147,200 – three times the street value of the drugs.