A man received a mandatory 12-month sentence in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court Wednesday for drug charges.

Corporate Area resident Ruben Walker, pleaded guilty with explanation to possession, dealing and taking steps to export ganja.

Walker begged the court for leniency indicating that he lost his job at a hotel after the closure of Cash Plus. He said he owes the bank $800,000 and was unable to repay his loan. He said he saw transporting the ganja as an opportunity to clear his debt.

Allegations said Walker was stopped during a routine spot check and found with ganja. It is alleged that his suitcase contained five pounds of the drug.

Walker was fined $8,000 or six months for possession, $16,000 or six months for dealing, and $32,000 or six months for taking steps to export ganja, plus his mandatory 12-months sentence.