Following convictions for possession of heroin for the purpose of trafficking after a controlled delivery operation, the court imposed penitentiary sentences on two offenders.
The intercepted shipment contained approximately 3.8 kilograms of heroin concealed in fireplace logs.
The court considered mitigating factors including stringent pre‑sentence bail conditions amounting to house arrest, positive pre‑sentence reports, lack of prior criminal records, and cooperation with police.
The court held that wilful blindness to the nature of the drug was not a mitigating factor following appellate authority.
Given the significant quantity of heroin and the offenders’ respective roles, the court imposed substantial penitentiary terms while recognizing the lesser role of one offender.
