A mason from Sandys was fined $1,600 after he was caught with cannabis in an increased penalty zone.

Walter Pereira, 33, admitted the offence in Magistrates' Court.

Crown counsel Auralee Cassidy told the court that on March 7, Police were searching vehicles on Broome Street, in Sandys, for weapons due to concerns violence might take place at the nearby Somerset Cricket Club.

Pereira was driving south on Broome Street when he was stopped.

No weapons were found in the vehicle, but Police discovered a hand-rolled cigarette in his front pocket.

While being questioned about the cigarette, Police noticed Pereira remove something from his back pocket and try to hide it between his buttocks.

Police retrieved the item a plastic wrap containing what lab tests confirmed to be 4.77 grams of cannabis.

Pereira told the court: "I'm sorry I wasted a lot of people's time."

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo fined Pereira $600 for possessing the drugs, and an additional $1,000 for having the drugs less than 300 metres from the West End Primary School.