A former Corporation of Hamilton trash collector was fined $50,000 after police found cannabis in his trash truck.A subsequent search of the Sandys home he shared with the mother of his child revealed more than 150g of cannabis hidden in a closet.Keion Simmons, 34, pleaded guilty on Thursday to possessing cannabis with intent to supply while in an increased penalty zone on June 7 last year.Magistrates’ Court heard that on the day in question, police became suspicious and stopped the trash truck on Court Street for a search. Inside the vehicle, they found a backpack containing several twists of plant substance.Officers arrested Simmons, who admitted being the owner of the bag, and subsequently launched a search at the home he shared with Clevonna Symonds, where a larger quantity of drugs were discovered, along with a scale and a bag sealer.In total, 177.6g of cannabis was discovered in the searches, with an estimated value of $8,900 if sold in 0.5g twists on the streets of Bermuda.Both Simmons and Ms Symonds were charged in connection with the drugs, but charges against Ms Symonds were later dropped.Representing Simmons, defence attorney Shade Subair said that the drugs were intended for personal use by the defendant and Ms Symonds, who used the drugs as part of their religious beliefs.And while Simmons was previously convicted of possessing cannabis with intent to supply in Jamaica, Mrs Subair said those charges were more than a decade old, and Simmons has no convictions in Bermuda.Speaking in his own defence, Simmons told the court that he had purchased the drugs that were found in the truck earlier that morning.“You maybe find it hard to believe that it was for my personal use as I had some at my house already,” he said. “But if you have something regularly and you have it at home, you could still go to the shop and stock up. It doesn’t mean you’re planning to sell it.“I bought it that morning. I was taking it home.”While he said that he believed the consumption of cannabis was an important part of his religion as a Rastafarian, he said he would have to go to other jurisdictions that are more accepting of cannabis to partake.Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner paraphrased the bible, responding: “I hope you give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.”Mr Warner said that charges of possession with intent to supply usually result in an immediate custodial sentence, but the legislation also allows a fine of up to $50,000, or three times the value of the drugs in question.He fined Simmons $50,000, with three years in prison in default of payment.