Security guard fined $1m for smuggling USD into Jamaica

Thirty-year-old security guard Kenardo Coke, was fined $1 million by the St James parish court after he attempted to smuggle US$50,000 into the island hidden in wigs in 2021. 

He pleaded guilty to two fines; possession of criminal property and concealment of criminal property, and was ordered to pay $500000 for each.

Coke was arrested at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James in April 2021, after he failed to declare the funds found hidden in his suitcase.

During the proceedings, attorney-at-law Able Don Foote, while noting that the judge had the authority to impose a fine and or a prison term, begged for leniency while stressing that a custodial sentence should be a last resort.

He also urged the judge to consider his client's good social enquiring report.

The foreigner was initially charged with possession of criminal property, concealment of criminal property, cross border movement of funds and conspiracy,

However, he was freed of two of the charges following submissions by his attorney who expressed gratitude at the judge decision to only levy a fine.

Foote said he was further thankful, as the penalty for cross border charge could have been a hefty $22 million, given that the Crime of Proceeds Act allows the judge to levy a fine of three times the amount of funds being transported.

- Tanesha Mundle

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