multi-million dollar drug smuggling ring which brought more than 22 kilos of cocaine into Bermuda's streets.

The 35-year-old swallowed hard as Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr. Justice Ground handed down concurrent sentences of 18 and 15 years.

He also ordered the 14 months Dillas had already spent in prison to be taken into account.

His lawyer Mr. John Perry QC said the sentence was a "bit higher'' than he had expected and may be appealed.

A surprise submission by the Crown of a tape in which Dillas told cellmates of his cocaine trafficking led Dillas to change his plea on Wednesday, the day he was set to be tried.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiring to import cocaine to Bermuda with others not before the court. But he denied charges of importing and possessing the drug. The Crown agreed not to proceed with those charges.

Before being sentenced Dillas said he was sorry for the offences.

Mr. Justice Ground said he could only give Dillas a 10 percent discount for his guilty plea because he had already caused one trial.

In that trial Dillas and three other Bermudians were found guilty of conspiracy, importing cocaine and possessing it with intent to supply. They were each sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Two of the men, entertainer Mr. Ted Ming and Mr. Colin Smith were freed on appeal. Retrials were ordered for Dillas and co-defendant Larry Ebbin.

Having listened to the Crown's tape, made secretly by one of Dillas' cellmates, Mr. Justice Ground said he found Dillas played a significant role in the conspiracy.

And he said its contents "tallied'' with the evidence of the two couriers Dillas used.

The explosive tape recording is of a two-hour conversation between Dillas and his two cellmates.

In it, Crown counsel Mr. Stephen Harrison said Dillas told all about his role as a distributor and purchaser of drugs.

Mr. Harrison read several excerpts of the manuscript of the tape to the court.

Throughout the tape he mentions names of Bermudians whom he said were involved in the conspiracy including a man Mr. Harrison referred to as "T''.

Dillas is also recorded as saying, "They'll never prove I knew those Cubans''.

And he tells of his involvement with a second courier, American Paul Seney, and how he made arrangements with a Florida-based man for drugs to come in.

"He also outlined the falsehoods he had told Police including the concocted alibi and those involved in it,'' Mr. Harrison said. Mr. Justice Ground said he had resolved some issues in Dillas' favour, including that only a few of the drug deliveries could be directly attributed to Dillas.

And he said he recognised Dillas was not indicted for supplying drugs so he would not be sentenced for that charge.

But he told Dillas: "The fact remains, from your own admissions, a substantial amount came to you.'' Mr. Justice Ground said he also recognised Dillas had played a lesser role in the conspiracy than "the American-based Cubans''.