A German tourist was fined $1000 after he admitted importing cannabis into the Island.

Christian Hempel, 47, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to importing 1.98 grams of the controlled drug.

The court heard from Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney that Hempel arrived into the Island on June 24 on flight from New York.

He cleared Customs, picked up his baggage and waited in the arrivals hall to go through.

As he waited, a sniffer dog alerted Police to him and officers searched his bags.

Mr. Mahoney said officers found nothing in his bag and told Hempel they were going to do a personal search on him.

During the search, officers found a zip-lock plastic bag in foil and saran wrap in his jacket containing plantlike material.

Hempel was arrested and taken to the Southside Police Station.

In court, Hempel said: "I do apologise."