Landscape gardener Omar Cannonier, 26, of Riviera Road, Southampton, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to possessing and importing cannabis on January 26.

Charges of possessing and importing cannabis were dismissed against his girlfriend Monique Tuckett.

The court heard Cannonier returned to Bermuda from New York at 7:20 on January 26 with his girlfriend and their nine-month-old baby.

Customs officers searched a black duffel bag belonging to the couple and found packages of drugs hidden in two bottles of baby powder.

Cannonier admitted that the bottles belonged to him but denied knowing about the drugs.

The two packages were analysed by narcotics officers and were found to contain 112.5 grams of cannabis.

Defence lawyer Kim White called Cannonier's former employer, Director of Parks William Cook, and his present employer, Corporation of Hamilton Supervisor of Parks George Ogden, as character witnesses.

Both men said Cannonier was a skilled gardener and a trustworthy employee.

Mr. Ogden said Cannonier was "a skilled tree surgeon and a reliable and conscientious worker''.

Mr. White said Cannonier was a hard working man and also works in the evenings for Just Cleaners. On weekends he runs his own landscaping business.

Magistrate Carlisle Greaves said he felt a custodial sentence was not necessary and fined Cannonier $2,500 for importation and $1,000 for possession.

IN COURT FOR A `WEDDING PRESENT' CTS In court for a `wedding present' An American visitor paid more than $1,000 for a "wedding present'' when he appeared in Magistrates' Court last week.

George Bailey, 31, of Vermont, pleaded guilty to possessing 9.55 grams of cannabis and drug equipment.

A clear plastic bag and a homemade cigarette were found in his pocket during a search by Customs officers on August 12.

A subsequent search of his cabin aboard the Norwegian Majesty cruise ship uncovered another bag of cannabis and a coca-cola can.

Bailey told Police the drugs were a wedding present and that he had been "too greedy to throw it away''.

He told the court: "This was definitely the dumbest thing I've ever done''.

Before fining Bailey, Acting Senior Magistrate Edward King said: "The visitor must be beaten with the same stick as the locals.'' He ordered Bailey to pay a $1,000 fine for possessing the cannabis and $250 for possessing the coca-cola can which had been altered for drug use.

MAN DISQUALIFIED FOR DRUNK DRIVING CTS Man disqualified for drunk driving A stockbroker found a lapse in judgment to be costly last week.

David Godfrey, 36, of Peach Tree Lane, Sandys Parish pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to driving while impaired on June 18.

Godfrey was stopped by Police officers on Middle Road, Southampton at 10 p.m.

after he attempted to overtake traffic in a dangerous manner.

When asked why he had driven in such a way he told officers: "I thought it was clear.'' As Godfrey spoke, the officers noticed his breath smelled of alcohol and his speech was slurred.

And when he attempted to get out of the car he was unsteady on his feet.

Godfrey told the officers he "had a couple of beers and a few glasses of wine''.

A subsequent breathalyser test taken at the Somerset Police Station showed that he had 244 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

The legal limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

Godfrey received a $600 fine and a one-year driving ban.

CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER IN COURT CTS Cruise ship passenger in court A young cruise ship passenger with less than an hour before his vessel departed Bermuda changed his plea at the last minute in court.

Michael Anthony Coletta, 19, had originally denied charges relating to a search incident at the No. 1 Shed but after conferring with his parents, he changed his mind.

Coletta, on holiday with his parents on the ship Norwegian Crown , appeared before Magistrate Ed King last week -- just hours before the 1.p.m. departure time of the vessel.

The student from Oakland, New Jersey, had been charged with using offensive words and obstructing a Customs officer who was acting in the execution of her duty.

Represented by duty counsel Peter Farge, Coletta originally denied the charges and was due to be tried that morning after the arrival of witnesses, but later admitted them.

Later during the proceedings, prosecutors offered no evidence on the obstruction charge but Ed King dismissed their application.

The incident had occurred in the early hours on Thursday morning, when Coletta was returning to the vessel after taking a walk, said Caitlin Garland, prosecuting.

She said he approached the terminal at 2.15 a.m., Customs officers tried to carry out an inspection but Coletta just walked away.

He was then asked to be cooperative and allow officers to inspect the contents of his pockets, but he turned and said "who the f*** do you think you are, I don't have to tell you anything, I am going to get some sleep''.

The Police were called and the student was taken to Hamilton Police station.

Coletta told Magistrate Ed King said he cooperated with the officers but said they harassed him, accusing him of committing an illegal act.

Peter Farge said his client was exasperated, which was why he reacted the way he did.

He had never been in trouble before and disagreed with the statements made by the Custom officer, he said.

"They (Customs officers) kept accusing him of doing something illegal, he said he was harassed,'' said Mr. Farge. "They didn't find anything on him, he was just out for a walk.'' He said Coletta apologised for swearing but he was upset at the time.

Magistrate Ed King bound Coletta over for 12 months.

TRIO FINED FOR CANNABIS POSSESSION CTS Trio fined for cannabis possession Three visitors, who arrived last week on the Norwegian Majesty cruise liner, yesterday received identical fines for possessing cannabis.

And the Americans forked over a total of $2,400 after pleading guilty in Magistrates' Court to their offences.

Thirty-eight-year-old Danny Odon, of Maine, admitted to possessing 5.75 grams of cannabis found in a bed side drawer in his cabin on August 11. He was fined $800.

David Cookson, a 19-year-old from Michigan, was fined $800 for the 6.65 grams of cannabis that were found in a clear plastic bag in his suit jacket on August 11.

And Timothy Meyers, 30, from Maine, was fined $800 for the 6.6 grams of cannabis found on him during a search by Customs officers at Ordinance Island on August 12.