An American tourist was fined $2,000 for attempting to import cannabis he claimed he needed for medical purposes.

James Insalaco, 24, admitted to bringing just over 20g of the controlled drug to the island aboard the cruise ship Norwegian Escape at Heritiage Wharf, Dockyard, on Wednesday.

Housekeeping staff reported finding the plant material in containers in the man’s cabin. He was taken to the customs hall and later arrested.

Insalaco told Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo on Friday that he used the drug that had been prescribed to him in the States owing to a boat accident that had left him in a coma for two weeks. He said: “I know it was wrong. I am a medical patient, I really need it. I have never left anywhere without it. Shouldn’t they have seized it when I left New York?”

Mr Tokunbo asked to view his medical certificate which was produced.

He handed Insalaco a $2,000 fine which he said had taken into consideration his medical condition.

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