The accused pleaded guilty to importing 601 grams of cocaine into Canada after travelling to Jamaica and returning with the controlled substance for payment.
The sentencing judge considered the seriousness of cocaine importation and the guidance from appellate jurisprudence establishing significant custodial ranges for such offences.
Mitigating factors included the accused’s youth, lack of prior criminal record, early guilty plea, limited pre-trial custody, strong family support, and positive rehabilitation prospects documented in a detailed pre-sentence report.
The court accepted a joint submission by counsel as appropriate within the applicable sentencing range.
A custodial sentence of two years was imposed together with mandatory firearms prohibitions and a DNA order.
