worth more than $250,000 into Bermuda.

The Supreme Court heard that 25-year-old Melvin Bernard Edwards, from the Bronx, New York, hid the drug under his airline seat, but was caught after a search of the plane.

He had pleaded guilty on Monday to the importation of a controlled drug and was sentenced to 12 years in prison yesterday by the Chief Justice, the Hon.

Mr. Justice Ward.

Senior Crown Counsel Mr. Brian Calhoun, told the court that on June 9 this year, Edwards boarded a flight from America to Bermuda and during the flight he hid 1.17 kg of cocaine under his seat.

"When the flight landed in Bermuda, the cocaine was discovered during a search of the plane,'' added Mr. Calhoun.

A search of the defendant's luggage also revealed the life vest covers he had removed from under the seat to hide the cocaine.'' Mr. Calhoun told the court the cocaine had a street value of $262,500 and that Edwards told Police he had been given $1,000 to hide the drug on the plane.

"Someone else was to remove it upon the plane's arrival in Bermuda,'' added Mr. Calhoun. "This was clearly some kind of operation or organisation.

The plan was for someone else to be picking up the cocaine when the plane landed in Bermuda.'' Mr. Archie Warner, defending Edwards, scotched the idea that Edwards was part of a sophisticated plan saying he was just a carrier being paid a fixed amount.

And in his own defence, Edwards told the court: "What I did was wrong and I apologise for it. It was the money that I saw -- I had no other way of getting the money.

"I know that is not a valid reason, but I do apologise for what I did.'' EARLY TRIAL FOR CRUISE SHIP WORKER Early trial for cruise ship worker A cruise ship worker yesterday elected a Magistrates' Court trial for six charges of sexual assault.

The 38-year-old Honduran was a former worker on the Meridian . His lawyer Mr.

Rod Attride Stirling asked the court for an early trial date because the man is the sole support for his wife and children.

Mr. Attride Stirling also asked that the trial take place at a time when the Meridian was in port because it was necessary to go on a site visit.

Meanwhile, acting Senior Magistrate the Wor. Edward King re-arraigned the accused.

He is alleged to have sexually assaulted three women in Sandys Parish on August 3, 1995 and broke and entered their rooms during the night time with the intention to commit a sexual assault on each occasion.

Mr. King set the matter down for trial on October 10, 11, 12, 13 in Magistrates' court. The man was released on $3,000 bail with a like surety. He was required to provide a fixed local address, report daily to the Hamilton Police Station and surrender all of his travel documents.

He was also ordered to stay away from all ports, including the Airport.

Mr. King also set specific perimeters in the City of Hamilton, because the city is considered a port, as is Dockyard and the Airport.

The defendant was also ordered to stay away from Front Street between Queen Street and Spurling Hill. And he was told not to go within 100 metres of King's Wharf in Dockyard where the Meridian has a regular berth.

Last week the man was accused of breaching the bail conditions and was arrested.