A 22-year-old man charged with breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act after he was held with ganja weighing more than 60 pounds, was sentenced to 12 months' hard labour and fined a total of $159,000 when he appeared in the Santa Cruz Resident Magistrate's Court last Thursday.

Davion Omar Neal of Ivor Cottage district in St Elizabeth pleaded guilty to the charges of possession, dealing and trafficking ganja.

It is alleged that on May 19, 2009, about 3:30 a.m., Neal was driving a grey Volvo motor car along the Ivor Cottage main road, when the police, who were conducting a spot check in the area, signalled the car to stop.

After the car stopped, Neal and another occupant ran from the vehicle. Neal later turned himself into the police. He was subsequently arrested and charged.

He was fined $15,000 or 30 days for possession and $144,000 plus six months' hard labour for the two other charges of dealing and trafficking drugs. In addition, he was given the 12 months.