yesterday for handling a controlled drug with the intent to supply.

Robert W. L. Washington, who pleaded guilty to the charge, was said to have been "fully co-operative'' with authorities.

According to Police, a postal package had been sent on March 17, 1993 to the Air Mail Facility at the Civil Air Terminal in St. George's. The package was addressed to Gary McCluskey, a service member of the US Navy at the Naval Air Station in St. George's. It appeared to have been sent by a Lynn McCray of Brooklyn, New York.

Because of an error in the mailing address, however, the package entered the local mail system. It was subsequently examined by a Bermuda Customs Officer and found to contain a graphic stereo equaliser. Upon examining the equaliser, the officer noticed the paint work near one of the four screws that secured the bottom and top plates to the unit was scratched. The screws were removed and the officer found a package containing 86.6 grams of cocaine.

The cocaine, which had an estimated street value of $15,875, was prepared for controlled delivery and placed back in the mailing system for onward transmission to St. David's Post Office. On March 22, McCluskey collected the package in the company of a woman, Karyn Moniz, and returned to St. George's, where they were both arrested for suspicion of conspiracy to import a controlled drug.

Later that evening, Washington was arrested when he arrived at Moniz's St.

George's residence to pick up the drugs. Moniz has since fled the Island and a warrant has been issued for her arrest.

In passing sentence, the Hon. Mrs. Justice Wade said she recognised Washington was "highly intelligent'' and sympathised with his "desperate'' financial circumstances, but made it clear that she also had a "responsibility to the community.''