Police are warning the public to be wary when asked to transfer money for other people.

The warning comes after 58-year-old Cordell Simmons pleaded guilty to laundering upwards of $80,000 on behalf of drug dealers. The funds went to accounts in Jamaica and the US.

He also admitted wiring the money on behalf of at least three unnamed drug dealers and traffickers.

Detective Sergeant Grant Tomkins from the Financial Crime Unit said the case should send out a strong message to anyone involved in money laundering.

"This is one of the ways that the drug dealers and other criminals try to get the proceeds of crime out of Bermuda. We are doing everything we can to stop this from going on in Bermuda and this conviction demonstrates that the Bermuda Police Service remains committed to tackling crime and in particular drug crime from various angles.

"This case should be a warning to people being used by drug dealers to get money off the island. They may think they will never get caught but this case shows that is not correct.

He continued: "They are taking a huge risk by involving themselves in these kinds of enterprises. I would ask anyone who is approached to transfer money on behalf of other people to think twice and call the Police on 295-0011 or Crime Stoppers Bermuda on 800-8477 to report their suspicions.

"Money laundering is a serious offence and as you can see is treated as such by our courts. This conviction is the result of hard work from the officer in the case and a number of officers in the unit."

Simmons was given a two-year sentence in Magistrates' Court on Thursday for each count of money laundering, to run concurrently.

He was also ordered to serve two years' probation and comply with drug treatment.