Island was fined $1,600 in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Christian Hoagland, of New York, admitted bringing psilocybin, commonly known as magic mushrooms to Bermuda on May 29. He also pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and cigarette papers intended for drug use.

"I didn't mean any disrespect to the country,'' Hoagland told Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis.

Police prosecutor Insp. Peter Duffy said Hoagland arrived at the airport at 1.20 p.m. when he was subjected to a customs search.

In his hand luggage, officers found the fungal material along with the cannabis, while cigarette papers were found in his socks.

"It's an unusual offence for this jurisdiction,'' Insp. Duffy told Mr.

Francis.

Insp. Duffy then cited two cases in which persons were most recently convicted for possession of magic mushrooms, both in 1989.

He said for 1.6 grams, a $100 fine was imposed while a $350 fine was given for one gram.

"It's difficult to assess the strength of the plant material and to lay down any guideline for sentencing,'' he added.

Duty counsel Miss Sonia Grant suggested Mr. Francis follow the guideline set by the fine of $100.

"It's regrettable that a visitor to our shores should find himself in this predicament,'' she said. "He had indicated he intended to leave Bermuda this afternoon and has certainly no previous convictions in this jurisdiction.

"I've been instructed he's never been arrested before and owns his own business ... perhaps this is somewhat out of character for him.'' Mr. Francis fined Hoagland $1,000 for the mushrooms, $500 for the cannabis and $100 for the papers.

"This was quite a lot of stuff,'' he said. "And so I am doing the best I can in the circumstances.''