WOMEN JAILED FOR ROLES IN IMPORTATION OF COCAINE

Two women have been jailed for their roles in the importation of cocaine
with a street value of IEP280,000.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told that one woman had escaped to the US
from Liberia with three of her children but a son and daughter were still
missing as a result of the war in the country.

The woman, Mai Jackson, ran her own street business in the US but agreed to
act as a drugs mule for an international criminal organisation because she
owed money as a result of her escape.

Since her arrest in November 1997, she has been in very poor health and has
had several operations in the Mater Hospital, Dublin.

Her counsel, Mr Paul McDermott, said an early diagnosis of her problem by a
prison doctor saved her life but she still had to undergo more surgery.

Jackson (41), of Vain Street, Staten Island, New York, and Afelumo Modure
Oland ewayu (34), of March Court, St Phillip's Road, London, pleaded guilty
to importing the cocaine on November 15th, 1997.

Det Garda Marie Courtney told Mr Roger Sweetman, prosecuting, that Jackson
was seen arriving on a flight from Amsterdam, having travelled from
Milwaukee to Antigua and then to Dublin via Amsterdam. She met Olandrewayu
at the arrivals lounge at Dublin airport and the two women did not appear to
know each other. They made a phone call and then Olandrewayu bought a London
ticket for Jackson.

The two were arrested and Jackson's holdall bag was found to contain a
cardboard box which was lined on the sides with bags of cocaine. Det Garda
Courtney said neither woman had any previous convictions.

Olandrewayu was a Nigerian by origin and lived in London for nine years
where she was a student psychiatric nurse. She had British citizenship.

Gardai were satisfied that the drugs were not intended for the Irish market
and may have been in transit for sale in Britain.

Mr McDermott said Jackson told the probation services that she imported the
cocaine because she had run up debts while helping her children to escape
unrest in Liberia. She now had US citizenship and had run her own food
business in New York.

Mr Erwan Mill Arden SC, for Olandrewayu, said her father had been a chief of
a tribe and her family were well respected. She had a good education and at
the time of her arrest she was training as a psychiatric nurse in London and
working with the disabled for Westminster Council.

Judge Kevin Haugh said the court was moved by the plight of the women.
Jackson in particular had a tragic life and was in very poor health.
However, the court could not show the same leniency to "mules or pawns" in
the international drugs trade as it could to people who committed other
crimes.

It was clear that drug dealers sought out people who were unfortunate in
life on the expectation that such people would be treated leniently by the
courts. He jailed Olandrewayu for four years and Jackson for three and
refused leave to appeal.