by Tashieka Mair, Star Writer

western bureau

A Trelawny farmer who tried to smuggle cocaine to assist with his mother's cancer treatment, will have to spend 60 days in prison.

Thirty-year-old Kevin Chambers of Wire Fence in the parish was given the sentence after he pleaded guilty to having 60 grams of cocaine in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

He was also fined $30,000 for possession and $70,000 for attempting to export. If the fines are not paid, he will spend three extra months behind bars.

Allegations are that on March 31, Chambers was seen behaving suspiciously at the security checkpoint at the Sangster International Airport, while standing in line to board a flight to England.

He was interviewed and his suitcase was subsequently searched. A secret compartment containing the contraband was discovered in the handle of the suitcase.

In his mitigation plea, defence attorney Adrian Dayes told RM Winsome Henry that Chambers' two parents are cancer patients.

According to him, his client's mother is undergoing chemotherapy, which has proven expensive for Chambers, who has been taking care of his parents along with his three children.

However, RM Henry said that there are many persons in similar situations that have not resorted to illegal activities to solve their financial problems.

"If it was ganja, I could have made an exception but not when it comes to cocaine," the judge said.

She also said that had Chambers successfully transported the drugs abroad, it could have had a devastating effect on its users.