Woman tries to ship ganja through FedEx

A woman employed at one of the island's hospitals was sentenced yesterday for drug-related charges when she appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

Genielle Brown pleaded guilty to possession of, dealing in, attempting to export and conspiracy to export ganja. Police report that Brown had tins of callaloo, which she attempted to ship through FedEx courier services. The packages were searched and were found to contain a vegetable matter, resembling ganja. The substance weighed 13.2 ounces.

She was represented by Charles Williams, who begged Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague for leniency with sentencing.

"She accepts full responsibility and she told investigators that it was her uncle who begged her to do something. She lives with her grandmother and her grandfather died [earlier this year]. The accused is sorry for what she has done," Williams told the judge.

In relation to the count of possession, Brown was fined $12,000 or three months' imprisonment and for attempting to export ganja, she was fined $70,000 or eight months' imprisonment. On the other two charges, dealing in and conspiracy to export ganja, she was admonished and discharged.

"I can only hope and trust that because of this experience, you have learnt, you are now wiser. There are some things that you cannot turn a blind eye to," Cole-Montague said.

- T.T.