Twenty-two-year-old Canadian native Holly Rideout was yesterday fined $75,000 and sentenced to six months imprisonment when she appeared before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court to answer charges of possession of, dealing in, and taking steps to export, ganja.

Allegations are that Rideout was stopped and searched when she tried to board a plane at the Norman Manley International Airport recently. A search of her luggage turned up 22.7kg (50lb) of the drug.

The lawyer for the accused woman told the court that she came to Jamaica on honeymoon after marrying a Jamaican in Canada. He added that after the honeymoon, the accused somehow allowed the man to persuade her to attempt taking the drug to Canada with her.

Resident Magistrate Glen Brown sentenced the accused woman to six months imprisonment in addition to a $15,000 fine for possession and $60,000 for taking steps to export ganja.