A holidaymaker caught with cocaine down his trousers claimed it was only to spice up his marriage on his wedding anniversary.

Michael Combs, 57, ended up being jailed yesterday instead, after pleading guilty to possession of the drug.

Combs denied trafficking almost 11 grams of cocaine, saying it was for personal use only while he and his wife holidayed in Bermuda. Combs, of Rockford, Illinois, admitted possession of cocaine, but denied a second charge of intention to supply at Magistrates' Court, yesterday.

Carrington Mahoney, prosecuting, told the court that Combs and his wife had arrived at L.F. Wade International Airport on a flight from New Jersey on October 22.

The pair were the only passengers who failed to fill out a Customs form and the suspicion of HM Customs and Immigration officers grew when Combs began acting nervously.

Mr. Mahoney said: "The defendant appeared to be very nervous, unorganised and fidgety. They were the only two passengers from an arrival airline who had not completed their customs document."

Customs officers stopped Combs and then scanned his hands, revealing 16 traces of cocaine. A body search ensued.

"Officers then removed a small gridlock bag containing white powder from his left sock and retrieved another zip-up bag from his groin area," said Mr. Mahoney.

A Police lab analysis found 0.4 grams of cocaine in one bag and 10.5 grams in the other, bringing the total street value to $1,500. Combs, an automobile assembly worker, told Police officers: "It was for personal use only."

Senior Magistrate Archie Warner, however, warned him that nine grams was enough for him to be classed as a drug trafficker. "You are deemed to be trafficking if you have that amount," he said.

Combs told the court: "It wasn't trafficking, that isn't why I brought it in, it was for personal use. It was my anniversary and it was just something I thought would help the troubles in our relationship, in our marriage.

"I thought it would help, I had no idea it was trafficking."

Mr. Warner jailed him for 30 days. He told Combs: "The possession of drugs in Bermuda is a serious offence. It becomes even more serious when it becomes trafficking amounts, which this amount is.

"The maximum penalty in this court for possession of drugs is ten years' imprisonment. Our superior courts have said that our sentencing must be of a deterrent nature."