A US visitor caught importing cannabis to Bermuda had to pay a hefty fine before dashing to the airport to catch his flight home.

Gregory Shillingford, 27, of May Street, South Hempstead, New York, was caught after he entered the Island on a flight from New York on Friday.

Crown counsel Larissa Burgess told Magistrates' Court yesterday that a plastic bag containing 0.98 grams of the drug was found wrapped in a $1 bill in his wallet during a search by Customs officers.

Shillingford is reported to have responded to the discovery by declaring: "Oh my, I didn't know that was there. I would never bring anything like that in."

He pleaded guilty to importation when he appeared before the court.

Ms Burgess said Shillingford, who is single and works as a medical records supervisor at a correctional facility, has been a regular visitor to Bermuda in the past.

Defence lawyer Eugene Johnston said he'd keep his submissions short, as his client's flight home was due to leave in less than two hours and he was "cutting it very close".

"The amount of cannabis we're talking about is very small and this is an honest mistake by Mr. Shillingford," he said, adding that he'd been visiting Bermuda since he was a child.

The defendant told Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo: "I do apologise for my behaviour, I truly did forget it was in my wallet. If I'd known, I would have taken it out."

After Shillingford apologised, Mr. Tokunbo fined Shillingford $1,500 which he ordered him to pay straight away.