Two young Bermudians were jailed for four and half years yesterday for importing cannabis with a street value of $76,300.

Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller said she could not take into account the fact that they were teens when they committed the offence because international drug dealers often use young people in the hope the court will be more lenient.

Nathaniel Colin Washington and Janeene Harris, were both 19 in May 1999 when they tried to smuggle the drugs into the Island from New Jersey.

Washington admitted meeting Harris in New Jersey and asking her to bring the drugs into Bermuda, which, he said, she agreed to do.

He also said he helped pack the 1,526 grams of cannabis in a false bottom of a bag.

But the plot was foiled when Customs officers stopped Harris, of Princess Street, Pembroke, at Bermuda International Airport on May 22, 1999 and x-rayed her bag.

Washington, of Grace Lane, Pembroke, returned the following day and admitted his involvement in the scheme when interviewed by Police. He pleaded guilty to importing drugs.

Harris, who worked for the Planning Department, denied importing the drugs and possession with intent to supply but was found guilty by a Supreme Court jury.

She still maintained her innocence yesterday as she tearfully pleaded with Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller to be lenient with her because she was a "good person''.

She apologised to the court and her family for the trouble she had caused, and asked: "Can you be lenient with me because I am a very young girl and I am not a bad person? "I have a lot of life ahead of me and jail is not where I should be having my life.'' Washington, who has two previous convictions for possession of cocaine and possession of cannabis, also apologised.

He said: "This has been over my head for the last two years. I've moved on in my life, but I've had to deal with this. I am sorry for the decisions I made, but I had no choice.'' His father Colin, a self-employed tiler, said his son was honest and a good worker, and he asked if he could pay the court a fine to avoid a prison sentence.

But Mrs Justice Wade-Miller said: "Its not a matter of paying a fine. He is going to have to pay the price. The court could not entertain for a moment a fine.'' Principal Crown counsel Dorien Taylor requested both be sentenced to between four and six years.

Richard Horseman for Washington and Elizabeth Christopher for Harris appealed for a lower sentence on the grounds of their clients' age and questioned why the case had not been dealt with at Magistrates' Court.

Mr. Horseman also pointed out that Washington had pleaded guilty, and had co-operated with Police before he knew his fingerprints were on the drugs package.

Mrs. Wade-Miller said: "It is clear that those engaged in importation and possession of drugs will be given immediate custodial sentences.

"Washington deliberately and for personal gain imported drugs, but his conduct is mitigated by his guilty plea, and he has shown remorse to the authorities.

"It is clear from the social enquiry report that Ms Harris had some instability in her life. She was very vulnerable and not equipped to make choices and this vulnerability has been preyed upon.''