Syndie Brendalyn Reece was today fined $50 000 for importing 5.5 pounds of marijuana into Barbados on September 1 this year.
The 39-year-old waitress, of #38 Manchester Close, Platinum Heights, Christ Church paid the fine imposed on her by Magistrate Douglas Frederick.
When Reece first went before the court, she pleaded guilty to four drug charges of possession, trafficking, intent to supply and importation.
On the other three charges, she was convicted, reprimanded and discharged.
Reece had a barrel sent from Canada to Barbados which she labelled “personal effects.” She arrived in the island on August 27 and was due to leave on September 4.
On September 1, she presented documents and her identification card to Shed 2 at the Bridgetown Port. Customs officers interviewed her and then inspected the barrel.
In it, they found a large vacuum-sealed transparent bag with three boxes of ‘cornflakes’ inside. Those boxes contained marijuana. Two more sealed bags of ganja were later found inside a bucket of soap powder.
Following the discovery, police were summoned to Shed 2, the drugs were handed over and Reece was arrested. During an interview with police, she admitted importing the drugs.
Explaining her actions, Reece said she was under “severe financial pressure” and wanted to finish her house here, which is under construction.