Four years, $9M fine for woman with cocaine strapped to thighs

Sandra Profitt
Sandra Profitt

A four-year sentence and a $9.1 million fine was yesterday handed to Sandra Angela Profitt, the woman who was held on Monday at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, at Ogle, with just over seven pounds of cocaine strapped to her thighs.

Profitt, of Lot 9 John Fernandes Drive, West Ruimveldt, was taken before Magistrate Rushelle Liverpool, at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court, where she was charged.

It is alleged that on April 29th, at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, she was in possession of 3.378 kilogrammes (equivalent to 7.4 pounds) of cocaine for trafficking.

Profitt pleaded guilty to the charge.

Winston Carto

When granted the opportunity to address the court, Profitt said she was sorry for what she did. She explained that her son was recently involved in an accident and the owner of a vehicle involved demanded that a new car be purchased because of the damage it sustained. Profitt said that as a mother she could not sit and watch her son go through the situation and so she decided to traffic the cocaine in order to help him.

Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) prosecutor Konyo Sandiford said that on the day in question, Profitt was sitting in the departures area, waiting to board a LIAT flight destined for Barbados, when she was approached by CANU ranks. The prosecutor noted that Profitt was later contacted and searched by CANU ranks, who unearthed six parcels of cocaine duct-taped to her legs—three on each thigh.

Sandiford informed the court that Profitt would have cooperated with CANU and would have provided relevant information.

Having heard from the prosecutor, the magistrate subsequently sentenced Profitt to four years in prison and fined her $9.1 million.

On Wednesday, CANU had issued a wanted bulletin for Winston ‘Chief Mike’ Carto, of Lot 193 Greenheart Street South Ruimveldt Gardens, in relation to the case.