MONTEGO BAY, St James — A British woman avoided jail time and was instead fined $1.2 million after cocaine was discovered inside her luggage at Sangster International Airport.

Faina Rwenhamo, 25, pleaded guilty to possession of, dealing in, and attempting to export cocaine and not guilty to conspiracy to export cocaine.

During the sentencing hearing in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday, defence lawyer Henry McCurdy cited a social enquiry report that provided a positive assessment of the defendant. He also pointed out that Rwenhamo possesses qualities such as honesty, integrity, and diligence, and asked the judge to be compassionate.

Presiding judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton acknowledged the attorney’s mitigation arguments, noting the consideration given to Rwenhamo’s time served in custody and the character reference presented to the court.

Rwenhamo claimed that an individual gave her the carvings to take back to the United Kingdom. The judge highlighted an aspect of Rwenhamo’s behaviour that influenced her ruling.

“From the outset, she volunteered the other carving. They found one, and she said there was another one in the other suitcase that I got from Michelle to take to her stepdaughter. That shows a bit of honesty on her part, so I take that into account,” Fairclough-Hylton said.

The judge then imposed a $400,000 fine or a three-month prison sentence on Rwenhamo for each of the following charges: possessing cocaine, dealing in cocaine, and trying to smuggle cocaine out of the country. The sentences are to run concurrently if the fines are not paid.

No evidence was offered on the conspiracy charge.

According to the allegations, sometime before 4:00 pm on June 26, Rwenhamo attempted to board a flight destined for the United Kingdom when her luggage was searched.

During the search, 1.6 kilogrammes of cocaine were allegedly found concealed in false compartments inside wooden craft items.

The drug reportedly has a street value of $7.5 million.

She was subsequently taken into police custody and charged with breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act.