and importing drugs.

And the court heard that David Anthony Ray served 14 months in prison in Ontario for a similar offence of importing drugs on a flight from Jamaica.

Ray, of Pitts Bay Road, pleaded guilty in November, 1993, to importing 2,371 grams of cannabis and was deported home in February, 1995.

He was caught on August 11 last year with 1,868 grams of cannabis worth $91,000 and 232 grams of cannabis resin worth $13,000 after a charter flight from Jamaica.

Before he was sentenced, Ray, 31, told Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller: "I'd like to say that I claim my innocence and my kindness is my weakness.'' Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller said although not a sophisticated crime, "the result is the same''.

She sentenced Ray to seven years each for importing and possessing cannabis and four years each for importing and possessing cannabis resin. All sentences will be served concurrently.

Ray, dressed in an orange prison uniform, showed no reaction to the sentence.

Prosecutor Sandra Bacchus told the court: "It is the Crown's opinion that he has not learned. This time it was to his own homeland. As I am from that jurisdiction I can say that 14 months is a very serious sentence.'' Ms Bacchus recommended sentences of nine to 12 years for importing and possessing the cannabis.

Ray's lawyer Richard Hector claimed his client was part of a conspiracy he knew nothing about and suggested a sentence between four to six years.

"It is a true conspiracy,'' he said. "Whoever put it there did not care.'' Speaking about Ray's imprisonment in Canada, Mr. Hector said: "My client was in custody six months with no end in sight. Rather than face a lengthy period in prison he pleaded guilty.'' The jury heard a Customs officer noted the shallow space in a cardboard box after Ray arrived on an Air Miami charter flight from Jamaica.

A Police detective said Ray appeared nervous while in line and did not seem shocked when the drugs were found in the false bottom of the box.

Ray said he asked a gypsy cab driver for a box to put the overflow of items he bought in Jamaica and suggested that he was set up.