An American who came to Bermuda looking for a job ended up paying a hefty fine after being found with drugs.

Michael Allan Carruthers, 39, of Providence, Rhode Island, was selected for inspection by Customs officers after arriving on a commercial flight on September 16, Magistrates' Court was told.

They found a small clear plastic twist with 2.45 grams of cannabis. Carruthers told them "I have a little weed on me" and admitted to knowing it was an offence to import cannabis, Crown counsel Maria Sofianos said. Carruthers, a software instructor, apologised to the court, saying it was "a bad decision".

"What a greeting!" said Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo, before fining him $1,500 to be paid before he leaves the Island today or spend 30 days in jail.

"That's how we treat drugs in Bermuda," quipped Mr. Tokunbo after handing down the sentence. However, Carruthers told Mr. Tokunbo that he could not pay the fine and said he only had his American Express credit card, to which Mr. Tokunbo responded: "We can take that too."