Airport employee sentenced for multiple drug-related offences

Kimauly Hoyles of Patrick City, Kingston 20, was today sentenced for several drug-related offences when he appeared before the St James Parish Court.

Hoyles, 38, was arrested at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James, on Thursday, September 12, while trying to flee the island with a fake American passport.

He was previously found guilty of multiple drug-related offences, such as possession, dealing, attempting to export, trafficking, and conspiracy to export cocaine, as well as possession of criminal property.

These charges stem from the seizure of approximately 277.15 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of over J$2 billion at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston on Thursday, December 10, 2020.

Today, Hoyles was sentenced to two years imprisonment at hard labour for possession of cocaine or J$1.5 million fine; and a mandatory two years at hard labour and J$3 million fine or three years at hard labour.

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For trafficking in cocaine, he was sentenced to one year imprisonment for attempting to export cocaine or J$30,000 fine; and six months hard labour for possession of criminal property or J$500,000.

On the charge of dealing in cocaine, he was admonished and discharged.

All sentences will run consecutively if the fines are not paid.

Additionally, Hoyles now awaits trial for the charge of uttering forged documents.

“The Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division will continue to crack down on criminal organisations and individuals involved in drug trafficking and other illicit activities and pursue those who try to evade justice,” the law enforcement agency said in a press release today.