marijuana on him.

Warren Pitt was fined 114,800 Jamaican dollars -- the equivalent of about US$3,100.

He faces an 18-month jail sentence, if he does not pay the fine.

The 41-year-old had pleaded guilty to possession, dealing and attempting to export marijuana, commonly known as ganja.

The drugs would probably have a Bermuda street value of about $180,000, although the figure could be as low as US$500 in Jamaica.

Pitt, of Two Way Lane, Pembroke, was about to board a plane to Atlanta when he was arrested on Monday at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, western Jamaica.

A sniffer dog alerted his Police handler as Pitt was checking in to board an Air Jamaica flight.

Insp. Charles Harvey, from the Airport Police, said the drugs, weighing nine pounds, were discovered in hand luggage which had been checked in.

He added Pitt, who was on his own, had been vacationing in the Montego Bay area.

Journalists for the Daily Gleaner said the drugs were hidden in a false compartment of a black bag.

Pitt pleaded guilty to the three counts when appeared at Montego Bay resident Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. He was sentenced the following day.

Yesterday Radio Jamaica, which carried a report on the sentencing, told The Royal Gazette Pitt was fined 72,000 Jamaican dollars for attempting to export.

He was also fined 28,800 and 14,000 Jamaican dollars, respectively, for dealing and possession.

"He was told he would receive an 18-month prison sentence if he does not pay,'' said a Radio Jamaica journalist.

In a Bermudian court, Pitt could have expected an automatic jail sentence.

Cocaine is valued on Jamaican streets at about 300,000 Jamaican dollars (one Jamaica dollar equals approximately 2.85 US cents) per kilo while ganja has a local street value of in excess of 4,000 dollars per kilo.

BERMUDIAN BDA