KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) – Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias has jailed two Trinidad and Tobago nationals after they were found guilty on three drug charges at the Serious Offences Court.

In addition, Robin Beharry, 60, and Jovan Ramroop, 23, were ordered to pay EC$13,000 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) forthwith or in default 12 months in prison.

But the men were also given a six- month jail term each on an attempt to export marijuana charge, and three months on a drug trafficking charge. The sentences will run concurrently.

Beharry and Ramroop, along with their fellow countryman, Jaffet Williams, 22, were jointly charged after the police claimed that between August 15 and 23 at Chatham Bay, Union Island, they attempted to export 22 pounds of cannabis, as well as having in their possession 9,988 gram of cannabis, for the purpose of drug trafficking.

They were also charged with intent to supply the illegal drugs.

All three men pleaded guilty to entering St Vincent and the Grenadines by boat on August 23 and disembarking without consent of an immigration officer; and, being prohibited immigrants, entered the State without a passport.

They were each fined EC$1,000 for those offences.

All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the conspiracy charge, which was subsequently withdrawn and the prosecution also withdrew the drug charges against Williams — who had pleaded not guilty.

Defence counsel Grant Connell said that he had been researching the approach of neighbouring countries to the sentencing drug offenders who are non-nationals.

Connell told the court that four Canadians were earlier this year fined and deported for attempting to import marijuana into Barbados. He said St Vincent and the Grenadines is engaged in a war against marijuana that it cannot win.

Send them back to Trinidad. Take away their money,” Connell urged the court regarding the sentencing of the two Trinidadians.

“Jailing foreigners will never stop the ganja-growing,” he added.

But the chief magistrate said that considering the defence’s submission and the guidance of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, a fine was in order for the possession of marijuana charge.

She ordered the defendants to pay the court EC$13,000 or spend 12 months in prison.

She, however, sentenced them to three months in prison on the drug trafficking charges and six months on the charge of attempting to export the drug.

The sentences will run concurrently.