38-year-old Julius Fidel Watkins, a father of 4, was today sentenced to four years in prison and fined $2.5million dollars after he pleaded guilty to possession of 960 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
The man was taken off a Canadian bound flight at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport by ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Tuesday and taken to a local hospital for a medical examination, where it was discovered that he had ingested some 114 pellets laced with cocaine.
CANU Prosecutor, Kola Sandiford, told the court that as Watkins approached the scanner area at the airport, CANU ranks observed him acting in a suspicious manner.
The prosecutor said that Watkins was questioned and based on his response he was escorted to the Woodlands Hospital, where an x-ray revealed the foreign objects in his body.
The Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara man appeared before chief magistrate Ann McLennan this morning and when asked about his reason for trafficking the illegal substance, he told the court that he is experiencing financial difficulties.