The American who was nabbed on Saturday at the airport with a quantity of cocaine in his possession was yesterday sentenced to four years imprisonment and also fined $10,000 when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry–Sewnarine.
Onrii Oluseun Ogunkile, 24, admitted to the charge which stated that between September 11 and 13 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, he had in his possession 826 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Special Prosecutor of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Oswald Massiah in giving the facts of the case said that Ogunkile who is a US citizen by birth had come to Guyana on vacation with family and friends and was an outgoing passenger returning to the US when he was nabbed with the illegal substance.
According to Massiah, the man’s luggage was checked by a CANU officer who noticed him acting in a suspicious manner. Twelve pellets suspected to contain cocaine were later found in the man’s suitcase. The Special Prosecutor said that after being confronted by the officials about the offence committed, the defendant told them that in addition to the 12 pellets in his luggage, he had swallowed 56 pellets.
The defendant was later taken to a city hospital where an x-ray was conducted and he was given the necessary medical treatment which enabled him to excrete the cocaine.
When given a chance to respond, the defendant told the court that he was sorry for his actions and begged for lenience.
According to Ogunkile, he wanted to, “make a better life for himself and family.” He added too that he has a young daughter and would like to be around to watch her grow.
The unrepresented young man was later sentenced to four years imprisonment and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.
