A Jamaican man faces the possibility of up to 40 years in prison in the United States and a massive fine after being charged with smuggling a kilogramme of cocaine in coffee bags and picture frames.

Perez

Omar Gibbs, 37, appeared before US Magistrate Judge Cathy Waldor by

videoconference this week on one count of importation of a controlled substance

and was remanded without bail.

According

to documents filed in the case and statements made in court, Gibbs arrived at

Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey aboard a flight from Montego

Bay, Jamaica on January 9.

“Law

enforcement officers discovered that Gibbs possessed about one kilogramme of

cocaine concealed inside two bags of coffee and four picture frames,” said the

US Attorney’s Office of the District of New Jersey.

It

said the count with which Gibbs is charged carries a mandatory minimum penalty

of five years in prison, a potential maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, and

a US$5 million fine.