A Jamaican cruise ship employee and a Bermudian mother of four admitted to conspiring to import almost $200,000 worth of cannabis yesterday in Supreme Court.

Sharon Wiena Mundy, 44, who is currently serving a nine-year sentence for importing cocaine into Bermuda, was sentenced yesterday to another six years to run consecutively.

Winston Steve Richards, 42, was sentenced to three years imprisonment for the same offence.

Crown counsel Anthony Blackman told the court Richards was working aboard the when the ship was berthed in New York en route to Bermuda, when US authorities found a total of four kilograms of cannabis in his sandals and in a cereal box.

The US authorities seized the drugs but Richards returned to the ship because the US authorities elected not to prosecute.

However, US officials communicated with local authorities, who spoke with Richards when his ship arrived in Dockyard on August 5, 2003. He was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to import drugs and interviewed by Police.

During the interview he outlined his role in the conspiracy and identified the other parties involved, including Mundy and a third man charged, Albert St. George Smith.

In a separate Court appearance, Smith, a Jamaican national, admitted his involvement and was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

Mr. Blackman told the court that Smith and Richards were to deliver the drugs to Mundy in return for $10,000.

He added that the maximum sentence for conspiracy to import drugs is ten years and that Mundy, the "mastermind" of the operation, should receive eight years considering her criminal record.

Mr. Blackman suggested to Puisne Judge Charles Etta Simmons, that Richards receive six years for his offence.

He told the court the $10,000 payment for the drug deal was seized by local authorities as a result of the investigation and he asked the court to forfeit the money.

Mundy's lawyer, Richard Hector, read a statement to the court from his client in which she admitted her wrongdoing and apologised.

"I've had a long look at myself," Mundy said in the statement.

Mr. Hector suggested that Mundy receive no more jail time than her co-conspirator, Smith, and said that there was no evidence that Mundy was the "ring leader".

"My client never had any dealings with Richards ? Smith recruited him," he said.

Mr. Hector pointed out that the Court has never seen the four kilograms of cannabis seized in the US and therefore, must ignore it.

Defence lawyer Elizabeth Christopher, who represented Richards, suggested a sentence of two and a half to three years for her client.

Mrs. Justice Simmons said that it was clear from Mundy's record that she did not support herself by legitimate means and sentenced her to six years at the co-ed facility.

She sentenced Richards to three years at Westgate and ordered that the $10,000 forfeited.