British resident fined for having cocaine at airport

British resident Toinelle Carew was on Tuesday fined a total of $210,000 after pleading guilty to having half a pound of cocaine in her possession as she attempted to board a flight at one of the island's airports.

Carew, 44, was charged on an indictment for possession of, dealing in, conspiracy to export cocaine and taking steps preparatory to exporting cocaine. Attorney-at-law Abina Morris, in her plea in mitigation exercise before Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell, submitted that her client Carew was threatened to export the drugs.

"She has no ties to the island, she has no family here and was told to insert it in her vagina and she couldn't. She was then told to strap it to her thigh, where it was found," Morris shared with the court.

Reports are that Carew was being screened at the security search area of the airport when anomalies were detected. She was subjected to a further search and one cylindrical parcel wrapped in clear plastic and grey masking tape were found concealed on her body. The parcel was cut open in her presence and found to contain cocaine. Morris noted further that Carew was beaten in her head and even made her first court appearance with swollen and bruised eyes.

"She has learnt her lesson Your Honour and we are asking the court to accept her version of events," said Morris said, adding that her client suffers from anxiety, depression and epileptic seizures, according to an evaluation presented from the Bellevue Hospital.

Carew pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and taking steps preparatory to exporting cocaine. For possession of cocaine, she was fined $200,000 or six months' imprisonment. A fine of $10,000 or 10 days was imposed for the other charge. - T.T.