MARIGOT--A French metropolitan man is to appear in court today facing charges of attempting to smuggle 2.4 kilos of cocaine through Grand Case Airport.
Airport security officers at Grand Case Airport reported to Police aux Frontières (PAF) an anomaly (presence of a metal mass) at baggage X-ray screening on May 15. On opening the item of baggage in the presence of the passenger concerned, 2.4 kilograms of cocaine was discovered hidden.
The Prosecutor's Office in conjunction with the St. Martin branch of the Office for Repression of Drug Trafficking and the Brigade de Recherches of the Gendarmerie subsequently opened an investigation.
The man, a 30-year-old metropolitan who had lived in St Martin and was not known previously for drug trafficking, but was a regular cocaine user, explained that because of financial setbacks he wanted to make a profit of about 25,000 euros on the resale in mainland France of cocaine bought at various points on the island for about US $8,000, which he had packaged himself, adding a metal plate that he thought was enough to hide the goods.
Following 36 hours in custody, he will appear in court this morning, Friday, and faces a 10-year prison sentence.
