fly home to Jamaica on Wednesday.

And Miss Angela Raphael has used her time in Bermuda to pass on an anti-drugs message to students who could become innocent targets of drug smugglers.

On October 7, the 28-year-old waitress was cleared of importing $11,000 worth of cannabis into the country.

Since then she has been "relaxing and getting to know Bermuda'' and she has made many friends.

Miss Raphael said: "I can now go back home and tell people that most Bermudians are nice people. People are people wherever you go in the world.'' The charges arose when Miss Raphael was searched at customs at the Civil Air Terminal in February. Customs officers found the 229.7 grams of cannabis with a Bermudian street value of $11,465 in two coat hangers.

Both hangers were holding suits which she was bringing from Jamaica for a Bermudian friend from his father. They had been made by experts to transport the drugs so they would be almost undetectable.

When the Customs officer broke open the hangers to reveal the cannabis, Miss Raphael screamed in shock shouting at her friend: "Is this why you brought me to Bermuda?'' Her friend was charged with helping the importation of the drug, but he was released as the Magistrate the Wor. Cheryl-Ann Mapp decided prosecution evidence was not strong enough to make a case against him.

Summing up the case Mrs. Mapp described Miss Raphael as typical easy prey for people involved in the drug trade.

She added: "I do hope this will help people realise the danger of transporting articles on behalf of other people who are not personally known to them.

"People in the drug trade are actively seeking out people like you to act as their agents.'' Since then Miss Raphael has been staying with friends while President of the Prison Fellowship of Bermuda Mr. Glenn Caines sought to smooth out her trip home.

First he arranged a visa to allow her to stay in Bermuda for a while longer, then he had to arrange a waiver to allow her to pass through New York on her way home.

American Airlines have agreed to extend her ticket from February so it will not cost her any extra money to fly to Jamaica.

Pastor at the First Church of God, the Rev. Ronald Smith, who has supported Miss Raphael throughout the ordeal, said last night: "She has been tremendous. People have rallied round and invited her all over the Island. She has been living with Rudwell and Pamela Wade over the past month. They are going to miss her Jamaican cooking.

"She spoke at Warwick Secondary School telling the students about her case.

Hopefully it will have sent a warning to those young people.

"I really wish she could have stayed longer so she could have spoken to more young people.'' She could have returned to Jamaica three weeks ago. And now she knows what Bermuda is really like she may return for a vacation.

Miss Raphael said: "I have nothing against Bermuda or the people here. It is one person here and one person in Jamaica who made this trouble but I still fell no bitterness towards them. I just thank God that I was not found guilty.

"I am just looking forward to Wednesday. The time has really dragged since I knew I was going home. I have spoken to my family they are looking forward to seeing me. They wish I was home already.'' After a service last night at the First Church of God on Angle Street, a party was held for Miss Raphael to give her a grand farewell.