Jamaican woman facing drug charges

Earlier today, officers of the Drug Squad charged 22-year-old Shanice Sherika Smith, of Wales District, New Port P.O, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica in connection with several drug related offences.

Smith was charged with possession of cannabis, possession of cannabis with intent to supply, trafficking cannabis and importation of cannabis.

During a routine check of luggage at the Grantley Adams International Airport yesterday, the police canine unit indicated the presence of narcotics in a suitcase on board a Caribbean Airlines flight from Kingston, Jamaica.

A subsequent investigation found that Smith was the owner of the suitcase. A search of her suitcase was conducted and four transparent vacuum sealed packages, each containing vegetable matter suspected to be cannabis, were discovered in a false compartment. As a result she was arrested and charged.

The weight of the suspected cannabis was four pounds with an estimated street value of $16 000.

Smith appeared before Magistrate Laurie-Anne Smith-Bovell at the District ‘B’ magistrates court today, where she pleaded guilty to all four offences. 

She was fined $10 000 or 18 months in prison on the trafficking charge, and was given a conviction reprimand and discharge on the other three offenses.

The fine was not paid and she was remanded to HMP Dodds. (PR)