Teen jailed for 3 years, fined over $1M for cocaine trafficking

A 19-year-old woman was today sentenced to three years imprisonment and fined $1.4M for cocaine trafficking by Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.

Anisha Hardy of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown pleaded guilty to the charge, which stated that on July 6, 2018, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri she trafficked 702 grams of cocaine.

Prosecutor of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Konyo Sandiford told the court that on the day in question, Hardy was an outgoing passenger on a BW 526 flight destined for JFK, New York.

While at the airport, the teen was intercepted by a female CANU officer, who received intelligence that she was trafficking drugs.

Sandiford told the court that the teen was taken to a city hospital where an X-ray was conducted and foreign objects were observed in Hardy’s stomach.

The court was told that between July 6 and July 9, Hardy excreted 119 pellets of cocaine.

The Prosecutor told the court that the teen was taken advantage of by two known drug traffickers who exploited her living situation.

The Chief Magistrate asked the teen if she would like to tell the court why she trafficked the drugs but she responded in the negative.

The two men who are wanted in connection with the case are:  Mark Sauers known as Marcus and his cousin Kelvien Sauers known as John.

In 2016, Mark Sauers was charged for recruiting drug mules, but the case was later dismissed due to the refusal of the victims to give evidence.