Two facing hefty fines after pleading guilty to cocaine charges

TWO PEOPLE WHO PLEADED guilty to cocaine-related offences have nine months to pay a combined $30 000 in fines or spend two years each in prison.

Acting on a tip, police arrested and charged 24-year-old Shonna Simone Jalisa Ashby of #129 Country View Estates, Lowther’s Hill, Christ Church and Ramon Omar Griffith, 30, of Maxwell Main Road in the same parish.

Ashby was charged with unlawful possession of cocaine, possession with intent to supply, trafficking, unlawful attempt to export cocaine, conspiring to traffic and supply cocaine and supply of cocaine.

Griffith was charged with conspiring to traffic and supply cocaine and intent to supply cocaine.

According to police, the pair was seen together at the Grantley Adams International Airport on Saturday and kept under observation. They were approached by police, informed of the suspicions and arrested. A search conducted on Ashby revealed two transparent plastic bags containing the cocaine concealed in a pair of boxer shorts.

Ashby and Griffith appeared before Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch in the District ‘C’ Magistrate Court on Monday where they both pleaded guilty to the offences.

She was fined $5 000 each for possession with intent to supply, unlawful attempt to export and conspiring to traffic and supply cocaine. She was Convicted, Reprimanded and Discharged (CRD) for the remaining offences.

Griffith was fined $10 000 for the offence of intent to supply cocaine and $5 000 conspiring to traffic and supply cocaine.

The drugs weighed 260 grams, with a street value of $13 000. (PR/SAT)