Five Venezuelans appeared at the Magistrate court before Chief Justice (Ag) Gloria Augustus, where they pleaded guilty to the charges of possession and trafficking as well as false declaration.
Hector Louis Ramerez, Daike Jose Herrera Ramerez, Daniel Jose Rivas Herrera, Pedro Celestino Ramos and Yhorbby Jose Rosario, collectively carried 5,361.4 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value of EC$143,407.80.
The five Venezuelan nationals arrived in Dominica via Barbados on August 20, 2023, and were taken into custody on suspicion of trafficking drugs.
The decision of the court was that the five men will serve 38 years in prison for the offences under the Drugs (Prevention and Misuse) Act. They were further sentenced to 18 years in prison for false declaration under the customs act. These sentences will run concurrently (together).
