A first time visitor to the Island appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday for importation of cannabis.

The court heard from Crown Counsel Brett Webber that last Wednesday, Matthew G. Fotis, 28, of New York, arrived on a flight from Newark, New Jersey, and was singled out by the Police sniffer dog.

He said that as Fotis was being searched he was asked if he had any drugs in his possession, to which he said 'no'.

The Police dog began to sniff around Fotis and alerted Police. Fotis was asked again if he had any illegal substances in his possession and he said: "Yes I do."

Police removed a Ziplock plastic bag from him and he was the escorted to the Airport Police station for questioning. The contents of the Ziplock bag was found to be 3.37 grammes of cannabis with a street value of $150.

He told Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo: "I'm very very sorry for what I did. I know it was wrong and selfish and I apologise to the court and to my girlfriend for putting her through this."

He was fined $1,500.