A Jamaican national who imported over $43,000 worth of crack cocaine into the Island in October 2002, began serving four years in Westgate last night after he had his sentence slashed by 50 percent for providing substantial information to the Police upon his arrest.

Crown counsel Juan Wolffe told Acting Assistant Justice Archibald Warner that on October 22, Julian Craig Patrick, 27, arrived at Bermuda International Airport. Acting on information received, Patrick was searched by Customs officials but the results were negative, Mr. Wolffe said.

However, the Crown counsel said, the Jamaican appeared nervous and his hands were shaking uncontrollably. Patrick subsequently agreed to be X-rayed at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

The X-ray revealed foreign objects in Patrick's abdomen. He eventually excreted 20 cylindrical pellets which were later analysed to be 138.2 grammes of crack cocaine.

During a caution interview, Patrick admitted his guilt, Mr. Wolffe said. The single, father-of-three told Police he was paid $1,000 by a Jamaican man to bring the drugs to Bermuda. Patrick also provided Police with information which led to the arrest of a man in Bermuda and his wife.

"What seems to be happening on a regular basis is the importing of drugs by foreign nationals," Mr. Wolffe said, as he called for a prison sentence between five and seven years. "The message is not getting out that our community looks down on drug activity."

He also told Mr. Warner that stiff penalties should be levied against international drug couriers as deterrents to members of other jurisdictions.

"But I am not suggesting that foreign mules should be punished any harsher than local ones."

However, Mr. Justice Warner said each case had to be weighed individually because not all the time drug traffickers were aware of the consequences they faced.

"Sometimes their lack of exposure, their dire circumstances, their poverty, does not allow them to be exposed to the type of situations they are getting around to... Sometimes the deterrents are futile," the judge said.

"But at the end of the day, whether or not they know that Bermuda is serious jurisdiction, they should not import drugs," Mr. Wolffe replied.

But when Patrick's lawyer Elizabeth Christopher asked him to consider a sentence ranging from two-and-a-half to five years, Mr. Justice Warner said: "Be real, it's crack cocaine."

As he contemplated Patrick's sentence, Mr. Justice Warner said he would sentence the man to ten years for his actions, but would cut the term in half for providing "meaningful information" to Police. The judge said he would also receive an additional year off for his guilty plea.

"That in my view, will go towards a substantial discount," he said. "This was a genuine attempt at assisting Police."

But Ms Christopher asked the judge to consider a lesser sentence.

"This is not some seasoned courier," she said.

However, Mr. Justice Warner would not be swayed.

"I am being lenient. He could have got eight years easily. Are you not aware of the difference between crack and powder cocaine? " he asked.

Before he was formally sentenced, a soft-spoken Patrick apologised for his actions, what he called "a stupid mistake". He asked that Mr. Justice Warner give him the shortest possible time so that he could return home to take care of his children.

"And to the youth of Bermuda, say no to drugs and yes to God," Patrick said.