NY-based Guyanese man to spend 3 years behind bars for cocaine trafficking

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Jailed: Haslin O’Neil Thom
Jailed: Haslin O’Neil Thom

The overseas-based Guyanese  man who was on Saturday intercepted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) with a large quantity of cocaine in his luggage was brought before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan on Tuesday.

Haslin O’Neil Thom, 46, originally of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown and currently of Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty to the narcotics trafficking charge brought against him and was sentenced to spend the next three years of his life in jail.

On January 14, 2017, at the CJIA, Thom was found to be in possession of 1.5 kilogram of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The court heard that the defendant was intercepted after the Airport’s scanner revealed suspicious objects in his luggage. The suitcase was pulled and a search was carried out. During a closer inspection of the objects, authorities discovered the illegal substance.

Thom was then taken to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) headquarters where he admitted to having the illegal substance, which had been weighed in his presence.

The defendant, however, told the court that he was ill and in need of an expensive surgery, and that motivated him to traffic the drugs.

He also told the court that he bought the drugs from a known individual for US$4000.

“I am sorry for my actions; I am very ill and need to have a surgery done on my stomach, I am begging for leniency,” Thom pleaded.

After the defendant’s appeal, Chief Magistrate McLennan sentenced and fined the man G$4.1 million, which is the street value of the drugs.

On the day of his arrest, Thom was heading back to Brooklyn, after he spent the holidays in Guyana.

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