St Elizabeth fisherman sentenced to over 12 years in prison for US$40m cocaine
Published:Saturday | February 4, 2023 | 12:19 PM
A 42-year-old St Elizabeth fisherman was yesterday sentenced to an accumulated 12 years in prison in the Home Circuit Court after being convicted on drug-related charges.
Daniel Hanson was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to three counts of breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which he was charged with, in 2021.
He was arrested along with two other men on Monday, November 22, 2021, at about 9:00 pm after the Jamaica Defense Force Coast Guard intercepted a fishing boat off the coast of Black River, St Elizabeth on which they were travelling with approximately 812 kg of cocaine.
The Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Narcotics Division investigated the incident and charged all there with: possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine, importing cocaine, trafficking cocaine and being part of a criminal organisation.
Hanson pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine and importing cocaine and received sentences amounting to 12 years and two months.
He may, however, spend a maximum of seven years and seven months in prison as some of the sentences are to run consecutively. Charges against the other men were withdrawn.
The drug the men were charged for had an estimated street value of over US40 million.
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