his waist was imprisoned for more than four years in the Supreme Court this week.

Chief Justice the Hon. Mr. Justice Ward sentenced Ariel Riveira-Ruiz to four years and three months in prison on Monday.

He admitted importing 4.39 pounds of cannabis from Miami on January 10.

Crown Counsel Mr. Khamisi Tokumbo said when Riveira-Ruiz arrived at the Civil Air Terminal, Customs officers discovered he had the cannabis strapped in bags around his waist.

"Someone paid him $3,000 to bring the drugs to the Island,'' Mr. Tokumbo said.

He added Riveira-Ruiz should receive four to five years in prison.

Riveira-Ruiz's lawyer Mr. Tim Marshall told the court that his client, who lives in Miami, had no known drug record.

"This was his first offence,'' Mr. Marshall said.

The Chief Justice said: "Drug dealers always look for the vulnerable to do this type of work.'' Mr. Marshall added: "My client was under financial stress and he was evicted from his apartment in Miami causing him, his wife and child to be split up.

"He gave way to temptation to import cannabis for an individual in Miami which was not consistent to his otherwise good character. He wishes to serve his time, get back to his family and return to work.'' Mr. Marshall also told the court that Riveira-Ruiz said he did not know importation of cannabis was a serious crime in Bermuda.

When asked if he had anything to say interpreter Mrs. Marguerite Hollis translated for Riveira-Ruiz saying: "He feels sorry for what he did and at the time he was not thinking about the severity of what he was doing, only saving his household and home.'' The Chief Justice said despite the mitigating factors, he had to sentence him to four years and three months in prison due to the amount of cannabis involved.