A Bermudian who attempted to smuggle more than 100 grams of cannabis into the country has been jailed for three years.

Malachi Scraders, 25, was caught at L.F. Wade International Airport with 21 pellets of the drug hidden in soda bottles concealed in shoes. He excreted a further 15 pellets of cannabis on admission to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH).

The street value of the drugs was estimated at $7,600.

Crown counsel Nicole Smith said Scraders left the Island on November 16, 2008, and returned from the US on November 20.

He collected one piece of luggage and made his way to the Customs Hall where a trainee Customs officer asked him if he had made a correct declaration.

Despite replying 'Yes', the officer proceeded to make a search of his luggage and found two 'Fifth Avenue' bags containing a pair of black and grey shoes.

Ms Smith said: "The shoes contained plastic 'Sierra Mist' soda bottles, stuffed with paper and water."

When Scraders, of Pembroke, was asked why they were placed in the shoes, he said: "So my shoes can keep their shape."

Ms Smith said: "When the Customs Officer X-rayed the bottles there appeared to be objects in the bottles of a greater density than the stuffed paper."

The officer cut one open and discovered 12 red pellets. Asked to explain how they got in there, Scraders said: "I don't know what they are or how they got there. Maybe the maid or someone in my room put them there."

Narcotics officers then cut open the second soda bottle, which revealed nine red pellets hidden in paper.

"The defendant was escorted to the airport Police station where he admitted to having ingested 12 other pellets containing cannabis," said Ms Smith.

After being taken to KEMH, Scraders excreted 15 pellets totalling 52.47 grams of cannabis resin. The 21 other pellets contained 48.49 grams of cannabis.

Scraders pleaded guilty yesterday to importation of cannabis and importation of cannabis resin.

At the Plea Court hearing, defence lawyer Rick Woolridge Jr called for a psychiatric and a Social Inquiry Report on the defendant, a former grocery store packer.

"He contends this marijuana was for personal use," said Mr. Woolridge.

But Acting Magistrate Edward Bailey said: "He carried the drugs not only outside but also inside his body. It seems to be a very calculated act.

"He went out on a wholesale premise, he certainly didn't go up to New York for the weekend to see a Broadway play.

"He had certainly sat down and calculated how to get it into these Islands. It was certainly a genius way of doing it. He took a chance but he was caught and he has to be punished."

He sentenced Scraders to three years' imprisonment.

Mr. Bailey said: "The court must send a message that there must be a deterrent for these people who volunteer themselves to import drugs to this country."