Christopher Thomas, STAR Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A British man who ingested eight ounces of cocaine to take to England was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment and fined $175,000, in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday.

Richard Milne, 47, from Manchester, England, pleaded guilty to possession of, dealing in, and taking steps to export cocaine.

The facts are that on February 25, about 3:25 p.m., the investigating officer received certain information while on duty at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.

As a result, he approached Milne, who was attempting to board a flight, and searched his luggage. Milne was then interviewed in the airport's narcotics search room, and subsequently taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital, where he was x-rayed and foreign substances found inside his body.

Between February 25 and February 28, Milne excreted 17 cylindrical packages which, when cut open, were found to contain a white substance resembling cocaine. Under caution, Milne said, "I accept the charges". He was later charged.

"Do you have anything you wish to say to me before I pass sentence?" the resident magistrate asked Milne when the case came before the court on Friday.

"Obviously, what I've done is very stupid. I was thinking of the money, and it was a stupid thing to do ... I'm sorry for what I have done," Milne replied.

In addition to a mandatory nine month imprisonment, Milne was fined $75,000 or six months for possession and $100,000 or six months for attempting to export cocaine. He was admonished and discharged for dealing. The sentences are to run consecutively if the fines are not paid.