A stop-list blunder meant an American with a drug conviction from a previous visit to Bermuda was allowed to enter the Island on a visitor?s visa.

Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton blamed an ?oversight? for the US resident not being turned away by Airport Immigration officials.

Mr. Horton confirmed the mistake after reports last week suggested that Pierre Turner had failed to leave Bermuda when his 21-day deadline expired June 18.

Reports last week indicated he was now at large in Bermuda and was wanted by authorities in the US for violating probation.

But Government denied this was the case.

Mr. Horton told that Mr. Turner left around June 11, within the 21-day visa period. Inquiries made last week, after it was reported that he was still on the Island, confirmed this was the case, he added.

And the Minister said that checks with American authorities revealed that there was no warrant out for Mr. Turner?s arrest in his home country.

Because he was never on the stop list, Mr. Horton said the US resident was never in Bermuda illegally. ?He left within 21 days that you are given when you land on a visitors? visa. He?s not here any more.?

On the stop list error, Mr. Horton said: ?He was convicted of a drugs offence in Bermuda. Normally when people are convicted of a drugs offence they go on the stop list.

?I can assure you that I have instructed our department to have him placed on the stop list.?

It is understood the Bermuda offence was committed nearly four years ago. Mr. Horton had no further details about the nature of the offence.

Mr. Horton said the failure to place Mr. Turner on the list was an ?oversight? and admitted the error was a concern.

But he said as far as Government was aware, Mr. Turner was not facing charges in the US. ?The FBI said they were not looking for him, and there was no warrant was out for his arrest.?

Southampton resident Raymond Santucci last week raised concerns about how Mr. Turner, the son of an uncle?s friend, was allowed into Bermuda with a drug conviction. He accused Government of double-standards on Immigration over the case.

?What grounds was he given permission to land here after getting caught for drugs?? he asked.

?The average Bermudian can?t get into the States if caught with a little seed.?

In 2004, Mr. Santucci said he was pulled from a plane by armed Canadian Police after officers in Bermuda sent his past convictions to authorities in Toronto.

He is continuing his legal battle against the Bermuda Police Service after claiming that his convictions had been cleared after he graduated from Drug Court.