Qld:Two cocaine importers jailed for 18 years

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2004
Qld:Two cocaine importers jailed for 18 years

Two men have been jailed for 18 years for arranging an importation of 12 kilograms
of cocaine from Brazil.

Forty-six-year-old FRANCIS IGNACIO BURNS of the Gold Coast has pleaded guilty to one
count each of conspiring to import a prohibited import, supplying cocaine and attempting
to dishonestly obtain a passport.

Fifty-year-old RONALD KEITH ISHERWOOD, a property renovator and jeweller, has been
found guilty by a jury of one count of conspiracy to import cocaine.

Brazilian-born BURNS had recruited ISHERWOOD and together they arranged the importation
of the cocaine from Brazil in 2002.

But police intercepted the two packages in Brazil and substituted the drug for flour.

Justice ANTHE PHILIPPIDES sentenced ISHERWOOD to 18 years jail and imposed a non-parole
period of nine years.

BURNS has been sentenced to 18 years, with a non-parole period of eight and a half years.

AAP RTV smk/as/lm

KEYWORD: BRAZIL (BRISBANE)

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.