U.S. drug courier jailed, admits to making bad judgement

Kerwin Dimmott, the 29- year-old American citizen who was busted with cocaine at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on Sunday, May 22, was on Tuesday jailed for two years, and slapped with a fine of Gy$30,000.

He was arraigned before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Kerwin Dimmott

Dimmott, of Boston, Massachusetts, was nabbed at the CJIA by ranks of the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU). The cocaine – 2.2 kilograms – was found in a false compartment of his suitcase. He was scheduled to leave on a New York- bound Delta Airlines’ flight.

During the hearing, Dimmott begged for clemency, stating that he had made a bad judgement in attempting to smuggle the drugs. He had arrived in Guyana on May 13, and was staying at a house in Campbellville, Georgetown.

The man said he is a father of two.

Four men associated with the local entertainment industry were also questioned and released in connection with the cocaine bust.

Sunday’s bust has again raised concerns about U.S. drug couriers working in concert with Guyanese “businessmen”.

An airport official had said that, with the recent installation of new scanners, authorities are better able to intercept cocaine mules, and he hopes that this will put an end to the trade sooner rather than later. He said that CANU and the Police Narcotics Branch should be praised for their unrelenting efforts in the fight against drug trafficking.

He added that the airport authorities will continue to assist the agencies in eradicating the scourge.

In recent times, several Americans have been nabbed at CJIA trying to smuggle cocaine out of Guyana. The most recent case prior to Sunday’s was that of Trevi Hall, 50, of Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.A., who was intercepted at the CJIA with 4.442 kilos of the prohibited substance.

She was later sentenced to four years’ imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to trafficking in narcotics.

In September 2010, U.S. resident Steven Dixon, 30, was charged with possession of 5.870 kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

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