A man jailed for his part in a multi-million dollar cocaine smuggling ring linking Bermuda with Cuban-American drugs barons has appealed for his sentence to be reduced.

Dexter Dillas was sentenced to two concurrent terms of 18 and 15 years in 1992 after admitting to charges of conspiring with others to import cocaine into Bermuda.

But barrister Kim White told the three-man Court of Appeal on Friday that the sentence was "too harsh and excessive''.

And he said the ten percent discount given to Dillas in view of his guilty plea and cooperation with Police on the Island and in the US was insufficient.

He told the court that Cuban-American Antonio Miranda -- sentenced to 20 years for his part as the Cuban drug empire's "man in Bermuda'' -- had his sentence cut from 20 years to seven years, a 66 per cent discount, on appeal in 1993.

The Court of Appeal accepted that Miranda had cooperated with Police in Bermuda and the US and deserved a discounted sentence.

Mr. White told Appeal Court President Sir James Astwood: "It's clear, I would respectfully submit, that the respective parts played in the conspiracy were different.

"Mr. Miranda's part was greater than Mr. Dillas' -- Miranda was the Cuban-American who was the link between Bermuda and the States.

"He was responsible for organising the transportation to Bermuda, responsible for delivering in Bermuda and responsible for taking the money off the Island.'' But he added the judge in Dillas' trial had described Dillas' role as "a wholesaler in the middle of the chain'' and the part he played was "less than the American-based Cubans''.

And Mr. White said: "My client has a justifiable ground for complaint because he started off on the same basis as Mr. Miranda -- I respectfully submit the starting point was wrong.

"Mr. Miranda getting 20 years and my client getting 20 years is disproportionate to the respective roles they played.

"The appropriate starting point should not have been 20 years because Miranda got 20 years -- he should have got 18 years to reflect his lesser role.'' Mr. White pointed out that an informant was "a valuable tool in the fight against crime'' and, although Dillas' assistance came after conviction, the assistance had been of "an ongoing nature''.

And he produced a letter from Police concerning Dillas -- which was not disclosed in open court -- for the Court of Appeal to consider.

Solicitor General Barrie Meade said the Crown disagreed with Mr. White on the starting point for sentencing.

And he pointed out that a plea of guilty by Dillas was "tactical'' after the surprise introduction of secretly-taped conversations with cellmates and he had given no indication of such a plea before the tapes were produced.

Mr. Meade added that the role of the Cuban Americans in the case was "monstrous'' and involved murders.

He said: "The assistance given, particularly by Miranda and subsequently by Dillas, was assistance in breaking up the American gangs.

"Having said that, from the Bermuda point of view, this was the largest conspiracy of its type which had ever been uncovered.'' He added that it was "superficial'' to suggest them import-export end was more important than the wholesaler and that the quantities of drugs dealt with by both Miranda and Dillas was much greater than would be dealt in by a street dealer.

And Mr. Meade said: "The level for both was the same -- 20 years -- and that 20 years was probably the right starting point.'' Sir James deferred judgement on the appeal for a week.