A sobbing South African mother of two, who has found God since she was arrested for importing more than $2 million worth of heroin, was sentenced to 12 years in jail on Friday.

Lillian M. Ramphelewas arrested on June 30 after a routine inspection found 540 grams of heroin hidden in her shoes.

The 44-year-old from Limpopo, South Africa, pleaded guilty to the charge of importation.

Her lawyer, Elizabeth Christopher, asked for mercy saying that Ramphele assisted Police in their investigations into another South African and pleaded guilty. She also informed the court that her client had found God since incarceration and was committed to becoming a missionary.

Ramphele apologised for her actions.

"I have let not only myself down but my children and family too," Ramphele said. "Most of all I have let down my country where women are held in such high regard. Women hold society together in South Africa.

"If I understand the point of incarceration it is to be rehabilitative and I believe that objective has already been achieved.

"I found my God and he has forgiven me. I don't expect to be completely let off but I hope that you and your country can find it in your heart to forgive me.

"I wasn't thinking straight This is very difficult because my children are still mourning the death of their father and this is hard on them."

Ramphele told the court she had fallen on hard times after her husband died.

She said she was overwhelmed because she had married him at the age of 18 and did not know what to do once he had passed.

Her husband was 22 years older than her and she said he had taken care of her and her two children until his death.

Customs officers were alerted to Ramphele when she told them she did not know another South African, Posper Momubaghan Ujihinere, on the flight to Bermuda .

They became suspicious when they realised that the two South Africans had actually purchased their tickets together.

Crown counsel Oonagh Vaucrosson said that the duo's country of origin was not the cause for their inspection.

After the large quantity of heroin was discovered Ramphele admitted that she knew Mr. Momubaghan and said that he had given her the sneakers.

Mr. Momubaghan was initially charged with Ramphele but was later found not guilty in a Magistrates' Court trial.

Ramphele could have received 21 years under the current criminal code or been fined $6 million, three times the street value, for her crime.

Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves said the defendant's actions could not be treated lightly.

"It boggles the imagination as to what effect it [the importation may have had on the Island," he said. "It was a terrible act on the behalf of the defendant, whatever her temptations may been."

"I am pleased that some good may have come from this and that she has found her God but that which is Caesar's must be owed to Caesar."

He said Ramphele would have to spend considerable time in jail to pay for her crimes and that he was only reducing her sentence by "no more than 10 per cent" due to her assistance to the Police and early guilty plea.

The woman, who sobbed through out much of the proceedings, left the court room wailing after he delivered his judgment ? 12 years' incarceration with time already spent in jail taken into consideration.

Members of the Cornerstone Bible Fellowship lined the hallway of Supreme Court while Ramphele sobbed in the bathroom. They explained that they went to Westgate and the Co-Ed Facility to offer inmates support.

"We try to encourage them to get through it," Anita Brown said. "We don't look at what they have done, we just try and help them through it. God has forgiven her."

Another member, Tine Perry, became emotional when she spoke of Ramphele's two children who remain in South Africa.

They were 14 and 20, she said, and this experience had been overwhelming for them.

"It is awful because they do not have the money to come and visit her," she said.

"We are going to help her get through this and help her find a support group," Ms Brown said.

"We have people from many cultures and countries at our church. Many are from South Africa and they will be able to provide her with assistance."

The women confirmed that Ramphele planned to spread the word of God in South Africa once she was released and said it was awful that she was incarcerated when Mr. Ujihinere was found not guilty. They said that hearing Ms Ramphele's whole story was "heart breaking".

Ramphele remained in the bathrooms for some time before she was taken to a waiting shuttle and transported to the Co-Ed Facility to begin her long sentence.