Shirley Charles was jailed for 15 years with hard labour.

Charles who stood during Justice Andre Mondesir's 45-minute sentencing, quickly turned to her two relatives in the public gallery crying and wiping the tears from her face. As she was being escorted out the courtroom, Charles' sobs could be heard even when the heavy wooden doors were closed behind her. Charles, who was represented by attorney El Farouk Hosein was found guilty by a nine-member jury two weeks ago for being in possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking on September 9, 2002, at the Piarco International Airport. In passing sentence Mondesir said the drug trade cannot be viewed in isolation since it causes damage to the fabric of society. Referring to Charles' testimony where she made reference to a man named "James" who handed her the suitcase," Mondesir said, "If you look in the docks it is not James there. If he does in fact exist one wonders about your loyalty to him." Adding that Charles was just one link in the chain of destruction and she had no idea of "the damage she inflicts," Mondesir said. He said her part of conveying the drugs and collecting money does not end there. "When you go lower down the chain, you have people who steal, rob, just to get money for drugs for which you traffic. "People sell their jewelry and chattel. Wealthy drug lords and cartels use the drug money to purchase illegal arms and ammunition...It is never a simple case of just smuggling drugs from one place to another...you were not just a carrier but you were engaging in the escalating level of crime in society," Mondesir said. The State's case was led by attorney Jennifer Martin. According to the State's case, Organised Crime Narcotics and Firearms Bureau detectives PC Mc Donald and Sgt Kerwin Francis were on duty at the Piarco International Airport around 5 p.m. at the security check point in company with other officers when they saw Charles who was destined for New York, USA, and told her they were acting on information that she was transporting drugs. Charles' suitcase was checked and the cocaine found hidden in the lining of her suitcase.

Shirley Charles was jailed for 15 years with hard labour.

Charles who stood during Justice Andre Mondesir's 45-minute sentencing, quickly turned to her two relatives in the public gallery crying...

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