Cocaine found in UK visitor’s slippers

A British man who was reportedly held at Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport with nearly two pounds of cocaine hidden inside slippers will return to the St James Parish Court for sentencing on November 27.

Glenn Mason, of a London address, pleaded guilty to possession of, dealing in, and attempting to export cocaine when he appeared in court on Wednesday. He pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy to export cocaine, following which a no-evidence motion was made by the prosecution concerning that charge.

The court was told that, on September 30 at 4:15 p.m., a team of officers was at the airport conducting surveillance of outgoing passengers boarding a flight to London. During those checks, the lead investigator approached Mason and requested to search his luggage. The request was granted and two pairs of slippers which felt suspiciously heavy were found in Mason's luggage. Mason claimed that he had bought the slippers for his girlfriend but he could not say where he had bought them or what her shoe size was. The slippers were examined and four parcels of a white substance resembling cocaine were found inside them. Mason was subsequently arrested and charged.

During the court proceedings, it was disclosed that Mason had previously appeared in court on October 9, having been in custody since his arrest. Presiding Parish Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton subsequently set sentencing for November 27, to allow time for a social enquiry report to be prepared.