July 18 was the date set for sentencing in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday for a woman who pleaded guilty to ganja-related charges.

Karene Lawrence pleaded guilty to possession, dealing and taking preparatory steps to export and conspiracy to export ganja.

Police said about 9:45 a.m. on July 5, the defendant arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport intending to board a flight to Curacao. However, during security checks, she admitted that she had ingested several parcels containing ganja.

She was subsequently escorted to the Kingston Public Hospital where she underwent an X-ray that confirmed that she had foreign objects in her belly.

She was later taken to the Transnational Crime and Narcotics Division where she expelled eight cylindrical parcels of ganja.

The court heard that US$1,6086 found in the defendant's possession was confiscated after she revealed that it was given to her by the person who asked her to transport the contraband.

Lawrence also reportedly confessed that she was travelling with another woman who had ingested 39 parcels of ganja. The other woman is yet to be brought before the court.