A 50-year-old cosmetologist, of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was on Monday afternoon sentenced to four years in prison and fined over $14 million after five kilograms of cocaine was found hidden in her roof.
Nickela Craig Singh appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and admitted ownership of the cocaine found in the roof of her home.
Nickela Craig Singh
Singh pleaded guilty with explanation when the charge was read to her. The charge stated that on January 19, 2018 at Lot 237 Bretain Street, Soesdyke Public Road, she had in her possession 5.196 kg of cocaine.
According to the defendant, the cocaine was given to her to keep by her brother Junior Owen Singh.
She explained that when the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks showed up at her home on the day in question, she admitted that she was the owner of the said cocaine and even implicated others as a result of being confused.
However, CANU Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford revealed to the court that on the day in question, officers from the anti-drug agency were conducting a raid at Soesdyke when they gained information which led them to the defendant’s home.
Upon their arrival there, Singh was the lone occupant of the house. When questioned, she reportedly admitted to having the illicit drug stashed in her roof and even led the ranks to same.
The cocaine found in Singh’s home
She further signed a written statement of her confession in which she implicated her brother.
As such, she was taken to the CANU Headquarters where she was charged with the said offence.
Her attorney, Everton Lammy-Singh, implored the court to show mercy to his client as she did not waste the court’s time.
However, Chief Magistrate McLennan sentenced her to spend the next four years in prison and fined her $14, 029,200 which is three times the street value of the drug found.
Junior Owen Singh is currently in CANU’s custody and is expected to be charged shortly. A large quantity of foreign and local currencies was also found during the raid. Three of his vehicles, including an Escalade and an Infinity motor car, were seized along with three illegal firearms.
