ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) — A British national has been jailed for two years after he failed to pay EC$150,000 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) fine following his conviction in a magistrate court here on drug related charges.

Martin Collins pleaded guilty to the charge of being in possession of a quantity of cocaine at the Maurice Bishop International Airport, a week ago. The drug was found in his suitcase as he waited to board his Virgin Atlantic flight to London.

Collins appeared before Chief Magistrate Tamara Gill at the St George Number One Magistrate Court on Monday for sentencing and accepted full responsibility for the five kilos of cocaine found in the suitcase belonging to his daughter. The drug had a reported street value of EC$500,000.

The convicted man was ordered to pay the fine forthwith or spend two years in prison. Collins, who was on a short holiday here with his wife and daughter, failed to pay the fine.

Meanwhile, a 47-year-old Jamaican, Clive Connell, will re-appear in court on December 22 after he appeared on Monday charged with the offenses of trafficking and attempting to export a controlled drug last weekend.

Police said that Connel and 28-year-old Grenadian  Esing Carridge, were arrested after they admitted to attempting to send a quantity of cocaine along with other items via a local courier service provider last Friday.

Connell was also charged with money laundering after the police said they found a quantity of Eastern Caribbean, United States and Jamaican currencies in his possession.

Connell was remanded to jail while Carridge was placed on EC$30,000 bail.