Eight defendants sentenced to prison
Cocaine in bagage container:
Judge Maureen Dayala on Monday sentenced 8 people to prison on drug trafficking charges. The defendants were found guilty of trafficking 63 kilograms of cocaine in a hidden compartment of a bagage container of Surinam Aiways (SLM) on April 8, 2018. Four other suspects, including two police officers were acquitted. Valentino S was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. He must also pay a fine of SRD 10,000 or spent an additional 10 months in the state penitentiary. Brain D and Melvin D were each sentenced to 3 years in prison. They must also pay a fine of SRD 7,500 or stay an additional 7 months in prison. Humphrey K and Steven P were also given a 3 year prison sentence and a fine of SRD 5,000. If they don’t pay the fine, they will have to spend an additional 5 months behind bars.
Palmita W, Franklyn W and Eugene G were sentenced to 2 years in prison and they were also given a fine of SRD 3,000. If they do not pay the fine, they will remain incarcerated for an additional 3 months.
Marino K, Mario L and the police officers Pedro B and Vinay C were acquitted. Judge Dayala pointed out that each of the convicted men had an essential task in the entire operation. “Humphrey K told the court that Valentino S who worked at the main office of the SLM called him to arrange a meeting. Valentino S wanted to smuggle drugs out of the country via the international airport at Zanderij. Humphrey K would receive $10,000 for his services. Steven P who was also contacted by Valentino S would receive $12,000 as payment. He reportedly needed the money urgently. Palmita W who worked for the SLM as a security officer was on duty on the day in question and had to make sure that the bagage container would be taken out of the warehouse. She was aware of the fact that the container contained drugs. Brain D had asked her to keep an eye on the container.
Franklyn W who had worked at the SLM as security guard for 8 years was also approached by Brian D, supervisor at SLM security. He had received information about the container from Palmita W. Valentino S and Brain D kept denying.
The suspects were represented by Maureen Nibte, Murwin Dubois, Arjan Ramlakhan, Irvin Kanhai, Harold Belfor, Hedley Derby, John Ferdinand and Justina Eduards.