cannabis into Bermuda was jailed for five years yesterday.

Deaneo Martino Stewart, a breakfast chef on the MV Zenith , said he was approached by two unknown men at the docks in New York on September 30 last year and asked if he would deliver the cannabis, which was already on the ship.

He said he had no history of involvement in drugs and stupidly decided to agree because he was looking after his out-of-work father, his wife and two children.

But security staff on the ship were tipped off about the drugs and confronted Stewart, 21, at Bermuda on October 2.

Stewart admitted he knew about the drugs and gave them the six packages of cannabis, which weighed 2,704 grammes.

Crown Counsel Juan Wolffe said the drugs were contained in fruit packages.

Chief Justice Austin Ward said he took into account Stewart's guilty plea to importing cannabis and his co-operation with Police, but said couriers who used cruise ships incur a harsh penalty.

His lawyer, Elizabeth Christopher, pleaded for leniency, saying her client was not a drug user and was brought up in a good Christian home.

"This is the first time he has done something like. The offence had its germination and conclusion in two days, from September 30 to October 2.'' Stewart, of St. Anne's Parish, Jamaica, apologised and said: "I am not a drug dealer and I know nothing about drugs.

"I was going through some difficulties at the time with my family and I saw this opportunity and I took the chance. I am very sorry.

"I am a young person, I am not a bad person. I'd like to better myself in life and this is a big step backwards for me.''