A young mother was jailed for five-and-a-half years yesterday for importing more than $1.3 million of cannabis into the Island.

Amina Safiya Walida Edwards, 26, pleaded for mercy after her lawyer Mark Pettingill admitted that she had been "foolish" by taking part in the drug trafficking on September 3 last year.

Prosecutor Anthony Blackman told Supreme Court that Edwards, from Brooklyn, New York, had arrived on the Island on board the Pacific Princess cruise ship with her friend, Pamela Content.

As they were leaving the ship in St. George's, Customs and Police officers were searching passengers and a drug-sniffing dog drew attention to the women.

When first questioned, Edwards told officers that the dog was probably excited because she had been standing next to her brother while he had been smoking just prior to her coming to the Island.

However, a search of the women's shared cabin turned up two suitcases containing a total of 62 packages of cannabis.

Half of them were in Edward's suitcase, and the other half were in Content's. The cases contained only a small amount of winter clothing.

Mr. Blackman told the court that Edwards at first denied any knowledge of the drugs, although Content admitted that she had known about the packages.

However, the next day, Edwards said she wanted to change some of her answers to Police, and said she had only known about drugs being in one of the suitcases.

Mr. Blackman said in total, 27,736.8 grams of cannabis was seized.

He said: "If it had reached the streets of Bermuda, and if it had been sold in twists or bags or 0.5 grams, the street value would have been $1,386,825 dollars.

"For this type of offence, there is imprisonment for life or a fine, or both. I think that is an indication as to how serious drug trafficking has been viewed by the legislature in this country.

"In this particular case, I think it's one of the rare cases where we have cannabis to the value and excess of $1 million. Usually, in that amount of money, you are looking at cocaine or one of the harder drugs, but drugs are drugs.

"The defendant, together with her friend, were both charged by the Police. She said she only knew about one suitcase, but that is her version. Our case is that they were both together."

Mr. Blackman said Content, who was previously sentenced by Assistant Justice Norma Wade-Miller, got six years for importing the cannabis, and yesterday suggested that Assistant Justice Archibald Warner at least hand down the same to Edwards.

Defence lawyer Mr. Pettingill argued that Edwards had not known about the plot to bring drugs to Bermuda until she was already on the ship and on her way.

He said she had merely gone along with it.

"Our position is that this defendant did not know about a plan or venture to import marijuana to Bermuda until the ship had sailed," said Mr. Pettingill.

"She became aware of the intended plot of the other individual (Content) once the ship was at sea and foolishly allowed Miss Content to make use of her bag.

"She was silly. It was folly. The other party was the main player. It the other party that knew the contact; It was the other party that knew what she was going to get by way of money. Miss Edwards was not getting any piece of any action. There was no financial gain on her part."

But Assistant Justice Warner said he found it difficult to differentiate between the situations of the two women. Either way, he said both of the women were aware there was drugs in their cabin.

And he added: "But was she really a lesser player. That's what I want to know."

Before sentencing was passed, Edwards addressed the court. She said: "I would like to say that I apologise to the courts. I did not realise what was going on until I was already on board the ship.

"I would like to ask that you have mercy on me and I only want to go home to see my son."

In sentencing, Assistant Justice Warner said he had considered all of the relevant factors, including her mitigation.

"I sentence her to five-and-a-half years, in the circumstances. Every little bit helps."

A further charge of possession of the cannabis was left on Edward's file.

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