A student enrolled to a British university escaped a prison sentence on Friday when she was fined $650,000 after being hauled before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court for importing three pounds (1.36 kilograms) of cocaine disguised as hair oil.

Charged with possession of, dealing in, taking steps to import and conspiracy to import cocaine is Latisha Webber.

She pleaded guilty to three counts and not guilty to conspiracy before offering the court an explanation through her attorney Carl McDonald.

The attorney told the court that his instructions are that his client visited Jamaica to do her dissertation relating to her studies and was asked by a friend to take the hair products to Jamaica.

Webber arrived in Jamaica on May 10 and was charged on May 17. The court was told that a search was conducted and the cocaine was unearthed in 15 jars of hair oil.

The drug confiscated has an estimated street value of $7.3 million

Her attorney however sought a non-custodial sentence and was successful in his bid.

Webber was fined $150,000 or six months for possession, $200,000 or six months for dealing and $300,000 or six months for taking steps to import cocaine.

No evidence was offered on the conspiracy charge.

A fingerprint order was also made.