A judge sentenced a South African man to 12 months in prison on Thursday for attempting to smuggle cocaine out of Suriname last year.
Abraham Nkosi (37) from Cape Town, was arrested in December after he brought two computers to a courier company for shipment to Ireland, authorities said. Police said they found 2,3kg of cocaine hidden in the computers.
N’Kose has maintained his innocence, saying he brought the computers to be shipped as a favour to a friend from the neighbouring South American country of Guyana. Police in Suriname said they have not been able to identify the friend.
The South African must also pay a fine of Suriname $2 000 (US$730) or face an additional two months in prison.
Judge Albert Ramnawash could have sentenced Nkosi to a maximum of 15 years, but harsh sentences in drug cases are rare in Suriname. The highest prison sentence ever issued in a drug case in the former Dutch colony was 12 years.
The United Nations Drug Control Agency estimates that 22 tons of cocaine is smuggled each year through Suriname to Europe. – Sapa-AP