50-year-old Joel Cadogen, who has dual citizenship for the USA and Guyana, appeared today at the Diamond/Grove Magistrate Court before Magistrate Judy Latchman and was fined $1,527,000 and sentenced to 4 years behind bars. This was after he confessed to trafficking cannabis through the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) into Guyana.
It is alleged that on April 12, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), he had in his possession 2.036 kilograms of cannabis.
The man, who is celebrating his birthday today, pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him. However, his Attorney, Dexter Smart then returned to Court 2 and asked for his client to change his plea. But Cadogen maintained his guilty plea.
According to a CANU press release, Cadogen was intercepted on Monday after arriving at CJIA.
CANU said that he had three large suitcases and two handpieces when he entered Guyana, and he was subjected to a search by a GRA custom Official after clearing immigration.
CANU said that four compressed plastic parcels of suspected cannabis wrapped in jeans were uncovered in his luggage.
Cadogan was then detained and handed over to CANU Officials at CJIA where he was arrested and escorted to CANU HQ Georgetown.
The remainder of his luggage was searched and several pairs of sneakers were found to have been stuffed with numerous small empty Ziploc bags, and a tabletop scale.
