CRIMINAL CASE NO. 227 OF 2009
COURT: You have been convicted after trial of two counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs, one count of manufacturing dangerous drugs, and one count of possession of dangerous drugs.
In the manufacturing count, the drugs you manufactured were cocaine; in Count 2, the drugs you trafficked were cocaine; and in Count 3, the drugs you trafficked were, likewise, cocaine. The drug you possessed for your own consumption is methamphetamine hydrochloride.
In respect of Counts 2, 3 and, in part, Count 4, there are observations of the Court of Appeal which assist me insofar as the sentencing process is concerned.
There are no specific guidelines for sentencing for manufacturing. In the present case, I take the view that the manufacturing process that you pursued did not in any way enhance the value of the cocaine when you reduced it from cocaine hydrochloride to cocaine; that is apparent from the Admitted Facts.
Insofar as Count 4 is concerned, the quantity of methamphetamine hydrochloride possessed for your own consumption is significant. It is 20 grammes, and the Court of Appeal’s observations in this regard mean that I must take into account the latent risk that you may have trafficked in that in the future.
Nevertheless, taking all of these matters into account, I determine that the appropriate total sentence that you should serve is one of 9 years’ imprisonment. That will consist of the following sentences:
on Count 1, 4 years;
on Count 2, 5½ years;
on Count 3, 8 years;
on Count 4, 2 years.
I will order that 1 year of the sentence on Count 4 be consecutive to Count 3. I will order that the sentences on Counts 1 and 2 be concurrent one to the other and to Count 3.