A Chinese laundry worker aboard the Royal Majesty cruise ship was fined $300 after he admitted importing a pellet gun into Bermuda.

Prosecutor Insp. Peter Duffy told Magistrates' Court that Jin Long Li, 30, of Beijing disembarked the ship on August 2 in St. George's and was going through Customs when he was searched.

"The Customs officer on duty searched Li's bag and saw fishing tackle and a blue towel. He unwrapped the towel and noticed a black BB gun which was later recognised as a Marksman Repeater .177 calibre air gun,'' Insp. Duffy said.

He added that the officer seized the weapon and informed Li that guns were prohibited, but because Li could not speak English he did not understand what the officer was telling him.

"Through a translator Li told Police he was going fishing, and in China they use BB guns to shoot fish, and that was his purpose of taking it with him,'' Insp Duffy said.

Li also told officers that he purchased the gun in a Miami toy store and planned to take it home as a souvenir.

Insp. Duffy added that on August 22, Li's cabin was checked and several BB pellets were found.

Li's lawyer Mr. Mark Pettingill said the gun was "one up from a toy in the US and was purchased in a toy store''.

As Li was only paid $100 a month for his duties aboard the ship "his arrest was punishment enough''.

Acting Magistrate the Wor. Kim White was very concerned about the amount of time it took Customs to report the incident.

"The gun was found on August 2 and Customs didn't report it until August 22.

The ship has left and returned four times since then. This doesn't speak well of Customs,'' Mr. White said.

He added: "We in this Country take a very dim view of firearms because they are dangerous.'' Before fining Li, Mr. White also said: "I have taken into account what the prosecution and the defence had to say, the defendant's limited command of English and the fact that the gun does fall on the lesser end of the scale as it is a pellet gun.

"And I will note the defendant's lack of earning capacity.''