A Surinamese woman was sentenced to 18 months in prison when she appeared before the Oistins Magistrates’ Court on a number of drug-related charges.
Donna Uredice Oehlers, a 28 year old teacher, pleaded guilty to possession, intent to supply, trafficking and importation of half a kilogram of cocaine on August 18.
The mother of one, who is a resident of the capital city of Paramaribo, was arrested and charged today for the offences which were committed while she was at the Grantley Adams International Airport.
Presenting the facts of the case, Station Sergeant Rudolph Burnett said the woman arrived on the island on August 18 on a flight from Guyana. After clearing Immigration, she was stopped by the police and questioned.
As a result, she was referred to Customs where her luggage was searched but nothing illegal found. However, she was arrested on the suspicion of having drugs and taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where an X-ray showed foreign substances in her abdomen.
While she was at the hospital, Oehlers’ handbag was also searched and a cylindrical package with cocaine in powder form on the inside, was found. She was told of the find and admitted that it was hers.
Oehlers later passed 31 packages of cocaine at the QEH. After she was discharged, she was interviewed at the Oistins Police Station where she told police she had brought the cocaine here and was to contact someone at a hotel to hand it over.
Chief Magistrate Pamela Beckles fined her $50, 000 forthwith on the count of importation, with an alternative of 18 months in jail. She was convicted, reprimanded and discharged on the other counts.
On either payment of the fine or after serving the time, Oehlers will be handed over to Immigration officials. She apologized for bringing the cocaine into Barbados.