A West African man appeared in Magistrates Court yesterday charged with possessing and importing heroin into the Island earlier this month.

French-speaking Yaloo Mitchai, 22, needed the assistance of an interpreter when he appeared before Magistrate Will Francis yesterday afternoon.

He was accused of bringing the heroin into Bermuda on the late American Airlines flight on Saturday, March 2.

The defendant, from Benin in West Africa, was represented by lawyer Mark Pettingill and was remanded into custody to appear before the court again on March 25.

Mr. Pettingill was heard speaking in French.