An American cruise ship visitor was fined $2,500 after pleading guilty to importing cannabis and cocaine into the island.

Pamela Walker came to the attention of officials only when she approached them and asked if cannabis was illegal in Bermuda.

Walker, 60, arrived on the Liberty of the Seas cruise ship last Saturday.

As she disembarked from the vessel, she asked customs officers if cannabis was illegal.

When told that it was, she replied: “Oh, is it? Well, I don’t want to get in no trouble.

“If I had some weed, would you take it or should I just go back and leave it on the ship?”

Officials searched Walker and found plastic bags containing some green, plantlike material, a piece of foil containing a white powder and two grinders.

More plantlike material was found in a suitcase after officers carried out a search of her cabin.

In court yesterday, prosecutor Matthew Frick said that the cocaine weighed 0.31 grammes and had a street value of $100. The cannabis weighed 10.6 grammes with a street value of $1,000.

Defence lawyer Aqueelah Simmons explained that Walker had been taking cannabis as a pain reliever after suffering an injury.

She pointed out that the contraband was clearly for personal use and that Walker had admitted the offence immediately and was remorseful.

A tearful Walker told senior magistrate Maxanne Anderson that she did not intend to break the law. “That’s why I stopped and asked if it was illegal,” she added.

Walker was fined $1,000 each for the two importation charges and a combined $400 for the two counts of possession.

She was also fined $100 for the possession of drug equipment.

Ms Anderson said: “You didn’t do your research — you must always do your research — some countries kill for these type of offences.

“You should also consider that Bermuda has a horrible problem with drugs and a lack of resources to deal with that problem.”

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