Western Bureau: Briton, Richard Williams, who said he came to the island on holiday, will spend at least the next six months languishing behind bars after he was caught with 16 pounds of ganja at the Sangster International Airport Wednesday.

In addition, the mechanic and father of a three-year-old girl was fined $168,000. If he is unable to come up with the money, he will have to spend an additional year in prison. The ruling was handed down in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court by judge Paulette Williams on Thursday.

Williams was on his way back to London when the two suitcases he carried were searched and found to contain the illegal substance. The 16 pounds of ganja was concealed inside false compartments of two travelling bags that were packed inside the suitcases.

He was subsequently arrested and charged for possession of, dealing in and attempting to export ganja. When he appeared in court Thursday, he pleaded guilty to the charges against him.

He was fined $15,000 or two months for possession of the drug and an additional $51,000 or four months for dealing in the drug. He was also fined $102,000 or six months for attempting to export the contraband, and sentenced to a mandatory six months imprisonment at hard labour.