A cruise worker has been jailed for five years after trying to smuggle cannabis and heroin valued at more than $311,000 into Bermuda.

Teeteta lereria, of Kiribati, a South Pacific island chain, apologised to Chief Justice Richard Ground for "trying to poison the children of Bermuda" through her crime.

The 26-year-old ship cleaner, who is single and has two daughters aged five and seven, had faced a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Elizabeth Christopher, defending Iereria, said the motive for the crime had been love, not money.

She handed Mr. Justice Ground a document containing an account of her client's Police interview, but did not elaborate further.

She told the Chief Justice: "This defendant is in difficult circumstances. She has two young daughters and relied on a job she will never have again to support them, along with her mother."

Ms Christopher added that Iereria would have difficulties keeping in touch with her family while in prison.

It had taken a week for news of her arrest to reach them in Kiribati, the former Gilbert Islands which are north east of Australia and a British Commonwealth member.

Crown Counsel Cindy Clarke had told Supreme Court that plain-clothed officers from the Narcotics Cruise Ship Enforcement Team were on duty at Kings Wharf, Dockyard, on Friday October 6.

While observing passengers and crew members disembarking the cruise ship Norwegian Spirit — which had arrived in Bermuda that morning — one officer observed Iereria "acting suspiciously," said Ms Clarke.

The team followed her off the docks and into the Calypso clothing store in the Clock Tower Mall, where she was approached and detained for a search under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

"The female crew member then proceeded to run out of the Clock Tower Mall and the officers gave chase, and apprehended her a short distance away.

"She put up a struggle and was eventually subdued by the officers who felt a number of suspicious objects on her body," said Ms Clarke.

After being arrested and taken to Somerset Police Station, Iereria was asked if she had any money on her and replied "no, just drugs".

She admitted to having the drugs around her waist, front and back and said she believed the packages contained "weed".

Officers found eight packages on her person — seven containing cannabis and one containing heroin.

Tests revealed that the heroin weighed just over 60 grams, with a street value $232,220. There was 1577 grams of cannabis, with a street value of $78,850.

The court heard that Iereria had given assistance to the Police in their investigations.

She pleaded guilty to importation of cannabis and diamorphine.

Iereria said: "I would like to apologise to this court that I'm breaking the rules, especially trying to poison the children of Bermuda, which I strongly believe is not good."

She added: "I strongly believe that I will never do this again."

She stood impassively in the dock as Mr. Justice Ground sent her to prison.