Western Bureau: Grenadian Mark Abraham, who said he was coerced into the illegal drug trade while having a drink in a bar, was on Wednesday fined $350,000 and sentenced to 15 months behind bars at hard labour for possession of cocaine.

The sentence was handed in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court by the presiding judge and acting senior resident magistrate for St James, Paulette Williams.

The 32 year-old accused, who was working on board the cruise ship “Inspiration” at the time of his arrest, was caught with a pound and a half of the substance concealed inside the pair of black sneakers he wore on December 26, last year.

Abraham who allegedly disembarked from the “Inspiration” earlier in the day, was searched on his return at about 4:30 pm, and the cocaine discovered.

He was later arrested and charged for possession of, dealing in and attempting to export the contraband.

When he appeared before the court Wednesday, Abraham pleaded guilty to the charges against him and said that he had been lured into trafficking the substance by the prospect of financial gain. He explained that it was while having a drink in a bar that he was approached by a man whom, he said, asked him to take the shoes to Grand Cayman, where the “Inspiration” was destined.

“I did it, and unfortunately I was caught,” he told the court.

Judge Williams, who was unmoved by his explanation, harshly criticised Abraham for his decision to break the law.

“You have a job. You are earning a living but you are just greedy. You wanted more,” she told him before handing down her sentence.

For possession of the drug, Abraham was fined $150,000 or six months. And for attempting to export it, he was fined $200,000 or six months and sentenced to a mandatory 15 months at hard labour.

The charge of dealing in the drug was dismissed.