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A Diego Martin electrician who tried to transport cocaine which was concealed in soaked towels and T-shirts to England ten years ago has been fined $33,000.
Andrew Walters, 48, pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to export cocaine and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking in the Scarborough Magistrates Court.
The incident took place on December 14, 2008, at the then Crown Point International Airport in Tobago.
Giving a summary of the incident, Customs and Excise senior state attorney Harricharan Kassie said around 6 pm Cpl Patrick was on duty, along with Customs and Excise officer Glen Singh and other officers when they stopped Walters.
Upon searching Walter’s suitcase, the officers found two bath towels and two T-shirts hardened in a substance resembling cocaine. When told by the officers that they suspect the substance was cocaine, Walters said, “Boss, I really take a chance and pick up that by Channas to go England for $4,000 pounds.” The cocaine which was extracted by the materials weighed 681 grammes which had an estimated street value of $300,000.
In asking Magistrate Brian Debideen for leniency, attorney Ian Brooks said his client was remorseful, has five children and no previous convictions. Brooks also asked the magistrate to consider the age of the matter and that Walters had spent one year in custody.
Walters, he said, also helped the police with their investigations. Kassie, however, said the prosecution was not to blame for the delay in the matter because Walters had missed a court date and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
He said Walters was arrested three years later. Kassie noted that the offence was very serious and carried a penalty of a $50,000 minimum fine or three times the value of the goods or eight years in prison.
In passing sentence, the magistrate told Walters he could have been fined $900,000 but he took into consideration the mitigating factors and circumstances of the case.
Walters has to pay $5,000 by August 30 and the remainder by December 31, or serve four years in prison. He was reprimanded and discharged on the cocaine trafficking charge.