A 41-year-old cruise ship passenger was today fined a total of $1,300 for drugs offences and resisting Customs officers.

Rene Rosengart, from New York, admitted importing cannabinoid oil and what she believed to be ecstasy pills — although the pills were later found not to contain illegal drugs.

Magistrates’ Court heard Rosengart travelled to Bermuda on the Norwegian Escape to attend a wedding with her husband.

Customs officials found an e-cigarette cartridge that contained cannabinoid oil which led to a search of the couple’s cabin.

A container of pills was found and Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo was told Customs officials had to struggle with Rosengart, who tried to grab the pills and swallow them.

Rosengart admitted importation of the oil and what she had believed to be ecstasy.

Maria Sofianos, Crown prosecutor, said: “In her mind, she was bringing into Bermuda a controlled drug.”

The court was told Rosengart’s husband had cancer and that they were on their first holiday together.

The court also heard that the defendant was unsure about drugs laws in Bermuda as there had been several changes in US laws.

But Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo said that was not a valid excuse.

Rosengart was fined $500 for importing cannabinoid oil, $500 for resisting Customs officials and $300 for importation of what she believed was ecstasy,

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