Cocaine bust: Mother jailed for 54-months, fined $7.1M

A 40-year-old woman was sentenced to 54 months jail and fined $7.1M after she admitted to trafficking cocaine, while the charge was dismissed against her 19-year-old daughter today.

Last week, Kavita Persaud and her daughter, Rachael Narine appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann and pleaded not guilty to trafficking 2.660 kilograms of cocaine through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on February 14, 2018.

However, when the matter was recalled on Thursday, Persaud pleaded guilty to the charge on the grounds that the matter is dismissed against her daughter.

Prosecutor of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), Konyo Sandiford told the court that the teenager was an outgoing passenger destined to travel to the USA when she was searched and the illicit substance was discovered in her handbag.

According to the Prosecutor, the young lady and her mother, who had accompanied her to the airport, were taken into police custody where the mother subsequently confessed to the crime.

Sandiford further explained that the mother told CANU officers of other persons involved and how much her daughter was paid to traffic the drugs.