A British national who was reportedly found with 33kg of marijuana was sentenced in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday.

David Whyte pleaded guilty to the charges of possession of, dealing in and taking steps to export ganja.

It is reported that on February 26 Whyte was held with the contraband at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston as he tried to board a flight to the United Kingdom.

He was stopped and searched and the drug found in two suitcases he was carrying.

His lawyer begged for mercy before the sentence was handed down.

He told the court that Whyte has two children and a wife in the UK and also has a father here in Jamaica.

With that heard, Whyte was ordered to pay $236,800 or spend six months in prison for dealing in ganja.

On the possession charge, he was ordered to pay $115,000 or spend six months in prison.

He was also ordered to pay $355,200 or spend six months in prison for the charge of taking steps to export ganja. If this fines are not paid, he is to spend two years and six months in prison.