A Devonshire man was given a 12-month conditional discharge in Magistrates' Court yesterday for being found carrying cannabis he said he had forgotten to get rid of after a trip to Amsterdam.

Christopher Collette, 22, of Second Avenue, admitted to possession of cannabis.

The court heard from Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Michael McColm that on November 6 of last year, Collette arrived at the LF Wade International Airport from London, Gatwick and was approached by Customs officers.

When Collette was asked if he had packed his own bag and if he had any illegal substances on him, he said: "Yes and I don't have anything on me."

His luggage was then examined and when his jacket was searched officers found a clear plastic twist containing a plant-like substance, a lighter and an opened package of Camel cigarettes.

Collette was arrested and cautioned and transported to the Airport Police station where he was processed and released on bail.

The plant-like material was later found to be 0.94 grams of cannabis. "It was a complete mistake. I didn't check my bags before I left Amsterdam. I would have gotten rid of it," he told Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo.

In the same court session, however, a Canadian woman was not so lucky. Jennifer McBurney, 20, of Alberta admitted to possession of cannabis.

The court heard from Crown counsel Robert Welling that on April 9, McBurney was approached by Customs officers at the Airport.

When her luggage was searched, a pink pipe was found and a purple pipe with plant-like substance and papers inside the side zipper pocket of her carry on.

She was then arrested and claimed it was her roommate's bag that she had borrowed.

She also said that her roommate and her roommate's boyfriend smoke while she does not smoke. She was taken to the Airport Police station where the content of the plant-like substance was found to be 0.1 grams of cannabis.

McBurney, who is a contract worker as a waitress for a hotel, told Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo: "I would like to take the opportunity to apologise to the court for my foolishness and wasting the court's time and I will be sure to check my luggage next time."

She was fined $600.