importing almost $400,000 worth of cocaine.

Anthony W. Brangman, of Church Valley Lane, admitted importing 799 grams of cocaine on January 12, 1995, and importing another 544 grams of cocaine on February 15, 1995.

Acting Senior Crown counsel Khamisi Tokunbo said Customs officers at the Airmail Facility of the Civil Air Terminal in St. George's became suspicious of an incoming package marked "china''.

Upon opening the box, Mr. Tokunbo said, the officers found china plates and two packages containing a total of 700 grams of cocaine with a street value the Crown estimated at $220,375.

Mr. Tokunbo said Brangman, the father of a six-year-old daughter, arrived at the airport onboard a flight from the US on February 15.

While searching his luggage Customs officers found six video tapes, still in their manufacturing wrapping, that appeared unusually bulky.

Another 544 grams of cocaine, street value $178,750, was found in the packages, Mr. Tokunbo added.

Mr. Tokunbo said Brangman admitted flying to New York, buying cocaine, packaging it and mailing it back to Bermuda.

Brangman, a tree cutter with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, also admitted buying the cocaine found in the video tapes.

During yesterday's sentencing hearing, Mr. Tokunbo highlighted the substantial amount of drugs involved in the case and pointed out both offences occurred within little more than a month.

But Brangman's lawyer Mark Pettingill noted Police would have never been able to "crack'' the January 12 case if Brangman had not confessed.

Mr. Pettingill added that in the January 12 incident, Brangman had little knowledge of the shipment.

And in the February 15 matter, he said, Brangman was merely a courier. Mr.

Pettingill said his client was so full of remorse over his actions that he attempted to commit suicide by overdosing on pills.

When asking Puisne Judge Richard Ground to be as merciful as possible, Mr.

Pettingill said: "The public doesn't have to fear that there will be a threat in the future from Mr. Brangman.'' Brangman became emotional and hung his head down when telling Mr. Justice ground how sorry he was the incident happened.

When sentencing Brangman to eight years in prison, on each count, Mr. Justice Ground said he took into account his good personal and work record.

"I accept that you have been and could be a useful member of the community,'' Mr. Justice Ground added.

Both sentences will run concurrently.