A 47-year-old woman who was held with over six pounds of cocaine while entering the island on February 14, was on Tuesday sentenced to three years in prison.

Eloine Martin was found with the drug hidden in 17 pairs of shoes.

The sentence was handed down by Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey after Martin pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine, importing cocaine and conspiracy to import cocaine when she appeared before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court.

She was sentenced to three years in prison on each charge but the sentences are to run concurrently.

Martin, who arrived in the island on a flight from Curacao, was arrested after six pounds and two ounces of cocaine was found in the soles of the shoes that were in her luggage.

However, in her defence on Tuesday her attorney told the court that the mother of five, who had no previous convictions, got herself in trouble because she was trying to help one of her children to further her education.

According to the lawyer, his client had a daughter who did well in high school and wanted to go to college.

The Jamaica Customs Department says the drug is valued at approximately $7.9 million.

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