A tourist narrowly escaped a prison sentence after he was fined $6,000 in Magistrates? Court yesterday for importing 20.24 grams of cannabis.

Elan Fleksher, 24, of Pennsylvania Avenue, Boston, pleaded guilty to importing the drugs with intent to supply on June 13.

Crown counsel Cindy Clarke said Fleksher had arrived on the when a drug sniffing dog was alerted to his front right pocket.

?It?s marijuana,? Fleksher told Police.

Another bag of cannabis was seized from his cabin, Ms Clarke said, adding Fleksher admitted to bringing the drug here after he bought it in Boston.

Senior Magistrate Archibald said the weight of the imported drug was a traffic-able amount.

?This is a serious offence in Bermuda,? Mr. Warner told Fleksher. ?You are charged with importing a drug of such an amount over 20 grams. Under our law this makes it a more serious offence. Normally we send to prison people for supplying drugs so I should hear from you why you should not be in prison.?

Fleksher said he was celebrating graduating from the University of Massachusetts with five friends.

?All the cannabis I had was solely for personal use,? he said. ?I had no intent to supply or distribute it whatsoever.?

The prosecutor said the estimated street value of the cannabis was $1,000 and there was a provision in the law for Mr. Warner to fine Fleksher three times the value of the drug.

?The punishment on a summary offence is ten years in prison or a fine of $5,000, or three times the street value whichever is greater,? Mr. Warner said. Mr. Warner said Fleksher had to pay $6,000 yesterday or spend three months in prison default time.