multi-million-dollar cocaine ring, yesterday had his prison term reduced.

Paul Raymond Seney, who was sentenced in September, 1991, to 71 years in prison for his part in the drug ring that brought nearly $1.5 million worth of cocaine to Bermuda last year, left the court room smiling after his term was reduced to five years.

The 24-year-old New Yorker had pleaded guilty to conspiring with convicted drug dealer Dexter Edmund Dillas between July and September, 1990, to import 1,064.2 grams of cocaine.

Seney, represented by Mr. Kim White, also admitted importing and possessing the drugs with intent to supply.

Acting on a tip, Police searched Seney's hotel room on September 13, 1990, and found the cocaine hidden in a black bag under his bed.

Seney, who arrived a day earlier on board a cruise ship, cooperated from the time of his arrest, Crown Counsel at the time Mr. Barrie Meade said. And he helped Police in their arrest of Dillas.

He also agreed to testify for the prosecution during Dillas trial.

But last month Dillas pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiring to import cocaine with others not before the court and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Yesterday Mr. White told the Appeal tribunal his client continued to cooperate with authorities here and in the US even though his life is at risk.

Seney will give evidence in New Jersey where principal members of the drug cartel are facing several charges, including the murder of a courier who was willing to testify against them, Mr. White said. The date of trial is still pending.

The cartel was responsible for trafficking more than 100 kilos of cocaine in Bermuda with a value of $20 million to $40 million during the 1980s.

Mr. White stressed that without "supergrasses'' or informants like Seney the war on drugs could not be won.

"Informers and persons who cooperate should know that they will receive a substantial discount for assisting authorities,'' he said, "not to do so would be to blunt one of the sharpest weapons in the armour of the Crown in its continuing war against this scourge.'' While Seney was given a 50 percent discount for his cooperation in the Supreme Court on the 15-year sentence he could have received, Mr. White said he should have received a 66 percent discount.

"The level and cooperation of this appellant merits more,'' he said. "This appellant should be sentenced to five years, concurrent on all counts.'' Mr. White also reminded the court that Seney has been kept in solitary confinement at Casemates since he agreed to testify against the drug cartel.

"Locked up for 23 hours a day, with no one to talk to and in overcrowded conditions at Her Majesty's prison and never knowing when you will be attacked is not an easy situation,'' he said.

Mr. White added that Seney, who had distanced himself from the drug trade, will find himself in "considerable danger for the rest of his life''.

Seney also has a wife and children.

He stressed that a reduction in Seney's sentence for his cooperation could also stimulate others to cooperate and therefore less crimes will be committed.

"This appellant deserves the benefit of a greater discount,'' Mr. White said.

"It is of the highest public order that informers see that cooperation bears merit. But it is not that they will only benefit, but society will as well.'' Crown Counsel Mr. Diarmuid Doorley said the Crown was not opposed to a further reduction if it meant encouraging other informers to come forth and "destabilising the drug industry''.