$87,000 into Bermuda was jailed for three years nine months yesterday.

Shannon Leroy Tuzo had earlier admitted importing the drug and was sentenced at the Supreme Court yesterday.

In jailing the father-of-one, Puisne Judge Vincent Meerabux said: "These are very serious offences and society will not accept this anti-social behaviour.

"Had the cannabis found its way into society great grief, degradation and suffering would have occurred.'' Tuzo, of Cedar Park, Devonshire, admitted importation of a controlled drug, cannabis, and importation of a controlled drug, cannabis resin, at an earlier court hearing.

Yesterday Crown Counsel Charlene Scott said that on August 17, last year, Tuzo flew back from Jamaica and was going through Customs at Bermuda Airport.

He was carrying a large canvas bag, with clothing inside, a stereo and a box of spices and sugar which was labelled `Produce of Jamaica'.

"A Customs officer inspected the box and discovered that the inner lining of the box seemed to be padded,'' Miss Scott told the court.

"The officer cut a section of the lining and saw that it contained an amount of compressed plant material,'' she added.

Tuzo was arrested on suspicion of importing drugs and a further search of his baggage found seven batteries which had been tampered with.

In total 1.36 kilograms of cannabis was found inside the box and 229 grams of cannabis resin was found in six of the batteries. In the seventh was another 31.5 grams of cannabis. The total street value was said to be $86,995.

Before he was sentenced Tuzo, a self-employed fisherman, said: "I'm sorry. I did not know what I was doing.''