Bermuda during a "fool's mission''.

Danesa Maria Gonzalez had been lured by the offer of a free vacation in Bermuda and $1,000.

The 23-year-old claimed the offer came from a person she met at a New York disco, Magistrates' Court heard.

But Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis said Gonzalez -- described as naive -- appeared to have embarked on something "improper''.

And he said he wanted to make an example of the nursing assistant, who hails from the Dominican Republic.

He ordered the US $44,347 be forfeited, and fined Gonzalez $500, taking into account the two days she had spent in custody.

"I want to send out some message over this sort of thing,'' he declared.

Gonzalez admitted breaking Bermuda's foreign currency controls.

Mr. Brian Calhoun, prosecuting, said Gonzalez flew to Bermuda on January 24 from the United States.

Customs officers and Police found US $200 on her, he said.

Mr. Calhoun said Gonzalez reappeared at the Civil Air Terminal at about 6.20 a.m. on January 26.

This time customs officers discovered US $44,347 "concealed on her body''.

Gonzalez told Police she had been asked by a friend in New York to take the money back with her, said Mr. Calhoun.

In return, Gonzalez, a registered alien in New York, would receive $1,000.

Mr. Richard Hector, defending, said Gonzalez had claimed she met a person at a disco who persuaded her to take the money out of Bermuda.

She was promised a vacation in Bermuda and $1,000 as a reward.

Mr. Hector said Gonzalez told her sister the only contact she had with the person in the States was via a bleeper.

He added: "She realises now this was a fool's mission, and she was selected for her obvious naivety.'' He stressed his client had never had anything to do with drugs.

"All she was concerned about was making some extra money.'' Mr. Hector said Gonzalez, who has no previous convictions, wanted to become a nurse, and was studying at college .

"She has one more year at college to complete. She is a rookie, and is without blemish.

"She lives with her mother and sister, and two young brothers.'' Mr. Hector, appealing for leniency, said Gonzalez earned between $274 and $300 a week as a nursing assistant.

She had spent two days in custody since being arrested, and had been "terrified'' by the experience.

One of her fears was spending up to 25 years in a Bermudian jail.

Mr. Hector urged Mr. Francis not to speculate about why Gonzalez tried to take the money out of Bermuda.

Mr. Francis replied: "I don't want to speculate, but I can't help thinking the purposes could not have been very proper.''