The cruise ship season has only been in full swing for a week, but already a number of people have appeared in court on drug importation charges.

Two cruise ship workers were brought before Magistrates' Court yesterday, each charged with four drug-related offences.

Thaddeus Springs, 27, from St. Vincent, and Fitzroy Hamilton, 42, from Jamaica, are each facing two charges of conspiring to import cocaine into Bermuda, along with possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and handling cocaine on Monday this week.

The two men were employees on board Celebrity Cruise's Horizon.They were remanded in custody to reappear before the court on May 14.

Anthony Blackman represented the Crown, and defence lawyer Larry Scott represented both of the accused.

And three American visitors on board cruise ships were also hauled before the court yesterday after Customs and Police officers carried out searches on board vessels and found drugs.

David Dill begged for time to pay his fine after pleading guilty to bringing nine wraps of cocaine, amounting to 3.63 grams, onto the Island, along with 5.7 grams of cannabis.

The court heard the search teams were rummaging the ship while it was docked at St. George's on Monday, when a drug-sniffing dog showed interest in Dill's cabin.

Once inside the room, the dog went straight to the closet, where a plastic bag was found containing the nine wraps of white substance and plant material.

Yesterday, the tourist apologised to the court.

He said: "I am sorry. I came here for my birthday and I brought it for my own personal use. I saved all my money to come here on vacation and that's all I can say."

After Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves fined him $1,000 for the cocaine, and $500 for the cannabis, to be paid immediately, or a total of 140 days in jail, Dill asked for time. He said he only had $500.

But Mr. Greaves refused.

He said: "No man. You don't even live here. You should have saved the money and not bought drugs.

"You don't have to bring that here, you know, to have fun. Drink dark and stormies. There is enough fresh air to intoxicate.

"All this smoke in your eyes, you can't see the lovely fillies."

Passenger Joe Mercer was also arrested on Monday after Customs and Police officers carried out searches on vessels.

When asked if he had any drugs, he told the officers 'yes', and plant material, found to be 4.71 grams of cannabis, was found.

The 44-year-old said: "I am very sorry for bringing the drug into your country."

He was fined $500, to be paid yesterday.

Mr. Greaves said: "You fellas have money to buy this foolishness, you have money to pay for it. Pay today, or 90 days in jail."

And Samir Tarazi, aged 61, was also fined $500, or 50 days in jail, yesterday for bringing cannabis into the Island on a cruise ship earlier this week. The court heard he was found to be in possession of 7.21 grams of the drug.