A visiting American man who sent cannabis to Bermuda inside a postal package addressed to himself ahead of his visit to Bermuda escaped prison time after a judge declared him to be "too stupid".

In an unusual Magistrates' Court episode yesterday, Russell Coppola, 28, of Westchester Avenue, New York, pleaded guilty to importing 1.92 grams worth of cannabis on July 16.

Coppola was fined $1,500, with three months in prison by default.

Crown counsel Takiyah Burgess said at around 9 a.m. that day, Police patrolling the LF Wade International Airport's arriving mail section with a drug-sniffing dog, were alerted to a small brown box.

It was addressed to "Russell Coppola, 56 Church Street, Hamilton, Bermuda, in care of an employee of the Postal Service.

When opened, it contained a variety of packaged brand-name candy and an amount of plant-like material was found in between.

Shortly later, officers allowed the box to be delivered to the Hamilton Post Office in an apparent sting operation and showed up there to speak to the employee who the parcel was in care of.

Police quizzed the postal worker about its contents and origin, who told them they had no knowledge about it.

On July 20, Coppola called the Hamilton Post Office inquiring about the package and once told it had arrived, he went there to collect it.

However, Police had already begun surveillance and subsequently visited the Fairmont Southampton Princess, where they located Coppola in his room and questioned him.

Coppola, on the Island for a business conference, admitted to the investigators he had sent the package here while in New York and confessed the cannabis belonged to him.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner appeared baffled when asking Coppola to explain his rationale, while conspicuously trying to keep a straight face.

Coppola explained that the cannabis was only for his personal use while on the Island, saying: "I'm very sorry about it¿ it was for a business trip¿ we are staying here for a conference at the Fairmont Southampton."

His explanation prompted Mr. Warner to demand that the charges be carefully re-read, to help him in his deliberation in sentencing Coppola.

"You called from abroad and told the people you were posting a package here? You are dopey, foolish and immature for 1.9 grams of cannabis?" Mr. Warner said.

Coppola revealed the incident has already landed him in hot water with his boss, who is sending him back to the US for further disciplinary action.

"Man, you are too stupid for me to lock you up!" concluded Mr. Warner.