Benoit Jailed for Firearm related Offenses and Drug Trafficking

A 39-year-old man of Goodwill has been jailed for firearm related offenses and drug trafficking.

On Wednesday February 17, 2010 Edva Benoit of 30 Murphy’s Lane pleaded guilty to being in possession of 22 pounds of cocaine.

He also pleaded guilty to being in the possession of 2 hand guns, a 0.45 pistol and a nine millimetre pistol along with eleven rounds of ammunition for each gun.

Inspector Weekes said despite an impassioned plea in mitigation by defence attorney Condwani Williams, the Chief Magistrate sent a strong message by slapping Benoit with a $267,000 fine to be paid forthwith for possession of cocaine and trafficking or in default 2 ½ years imprisonment.

Weekes said in addition, a nine month jail sentence was imposed on Benoit for being in possession of the firearms and ammunition, without being the holder of a firearm license under the act of 15:31 of the Dominica laws.

The drugs, firearms and ammunitions were seized at Benoits home last week when police executed a search warrant on his premises.