A bartender has been remanded after he admitted importing cannabis.

Joshua Stovell, 30, pleaded guilty to importing 679 grams of the controlled drug into Bermuda and possessing drug equipment — a Bob Marley grinder.

Both the drugs and the grinder were discovered in his checked luggage at LF Wade International Airport on August 22.

The court heard that Stovell, a dual US/Bermudian citizen, arrived on a flight from Boston and had collected his baggage when a drug dog pointed to towards one of his suitcases. He was subsequently stopped by customs officers.

A search of the suitcase revealed a manilla envelope. Asked about its contents, Stovell said: “You don’t want to open that. That’s for me. It’s my personal stuff.”

The officers opened the envelope and discovered two sealed packages of plant material, which Stovell admitted was “about a pound” of cannabis, and a grinder found to contain trace amounts of the drug.

He initially told officers that the drugs were for his own use, but he later said that he had hoped to sell cannabis to his co-workers to make back the $1,800 he had paid.

Stovell explained that he had bought the drugs in Connecticut through his cousin, who had a prescription for medical marijuana.

Prosecutors alleged that if sold on the streets of Bermuda, the cannabis could fetch between $12,125 and $33,000 depending on how it was sold.

In court, however, he maintained that the drugs were for his personal use, saying he smokes cannabis four or five times a day and the drugs were supposed to last until January.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner remanded Stovell in custody until tomorrow morning, when he is set to be sentenced.