ST JAMES, Jamaica — Two St James residents who were arrested in 2021 after nine ounces of cocaine was discovered in “cheese puffs” and “plantain chips” packages at a courier company, have been found guilty of breaching the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Kediesha Johnson and Calvin Grant were charged with possession, dealing, attempting to export and conspiracy to export cocaine. However, no evidence was offered on the conspiracy charge.

Trial judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley, who delivered the verdict on Tuesday, said that her decision was supported by the prosecution’s evidence that the two were aware that cocaine was concealed inside the packages.

According to her, in Johnson’s case, the evidence presented in court clearly demonstrated wilful ignorance.

“It is a clear case of wilful blindness when the evidence shows that she had it in her possession and handed it over. All of these red flags were there, and she decides to turn a blind eye,” the judge said.

She then referred to Grant’s statement, in which he said he picked up the package from a man but could not provide any further information.

“What is also alarming is that by the time he gives his statement, I have two different accounts of his version of events… I find that in all of that, there is something more from which I can infer guilt,” Smith-Ashley stated.

On those grounds, she declared them guilty and postponed sentencing until May 9 to allow for the preparation of social enquiry reports. Their bails were extended.

According to reports, on February 25, 2021, Johnson went to a courier company in Montego Bay to send a box to a person in Canada. The box contained several packages labelled “cheese puffs” and “plantain chips.” The packages were later found to contain nine ounces of cocaine.

After being cautioned, Johnson told the authorities that Grant had given her the box to ship. Grant was subsequently arrested.