worth of cannabis into Bermuda in a Jamaican wood carving, a court heard yesterday.

During a routine inspection of 22-year-old Jay Tucker's luggage at noon on August 10, the Airport officer became suspicious of a wooden map of Jamaica he was carrying.

The Customs officer drilled into it and plant material was detected, Prosecutor Sgt. Peter Giles said.

The wooden map was later opened in front of Tucker and three shallow cavities containing packages of cannabis were revealed, Sgt. Giles said. The cannabis was later found to weigh about 250 grammes.

Sgt. Giles said Tucker admitted purchasing the map from a vendor in Jamaica who offered to hide cannabis in it. Tucker told Police he bought the map and drugs for $100 and they were for his own use.

Lawyer Mr. Perry Trott made a passionate plea to Senior Magistrate the Wor.

Will Francis not to jail Tucker, who admitted the offence.

He pointed to reports recommending the courts move towards rehabilitation rather than imprisonment.

It was Tucker's first offence and he had not known there was so much cannabis in the carving.

He said Tucker had a good job as a glass cutter and helped his mother with bills and caring for his two younger brothers. His girlfriend was also expecting his baby.

Sgt. Giles recommended a prison term, reminding Mr. Francis the Island was "at war with those who import drugs''.

Mr. Francis said he accepted Tucker's claim the cannabis was for his own use, but noted he had smuggled a large amount to the Island.

He fined him $5,000 and gave him a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years.