Single mother jailed, says she smuggled cocaine to take care of baby

A 37-year-old cosmetologist was Thursday morning sentenced to three years imprisonment and fined $1.1 million for trafficking cocaine.

Natasha Blair of Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD) appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and pleaded guilty to the charge which alleged that on July 2, 2018, at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, she attempted to smuggle 532 grams of cocaine.

Blair broke down in tears as she apologized for her crime.

“I’m sorry for causing this… I have an 11-month-old daughter,” she said.

Blair’s attorney, Keoma Griffith, in his plea of mitigation, told the court “these situations are very prevalent, my client is a single parent and had to make difficult decisions and an unfortunate risk.”

The single mother was an outgoing passenger on a Caribbean Airliner destined for JFK International Airport, New York.

Reports indicate that the woman swallowed cocaine pellets and concealed a package of the illicit drugs in her lower extremity.

Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford told the court that on the day in question, a CANU officer, acting on information received, approached Blair and told her of his suspicion.

She was taken to a city hospital and was subjected to an x-ray which showed the foreign object in her stomach and pelvic area.

The woman was admitted to the hospital where she excreted 32 pellets containing cocaine which weighed 322 grams and 210 grams was extracted from her vagina.

The prosecutor added that Blair told ranks in a caution statement that she did the crime because she needed the money for herself and her child.

The 11-month-old baby girl with whom Blair was travelling, has since been handed over to her grandmother.

CANU is now in search of the suspect’s child father, Sherwin Stoby also known as Kong last of 87 Roxanne Burnham Gardens Georgetown Guyana.

Anyone knowing his whereabouts is asked to contact CANU at 227-3507.