Two Canadian women were sentenced to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment yesterday for importing nearly $100,000 of cannabis to the Island.

Yunuen Monroy, 21, and Monique Carlton, 22, both from Hamilton, Ontario admitted the offence in Magistrates' Court.

Carlton, a customer service representative, also pleaded guilty to a further charge of importing, and possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

Crown counsel Takiyah Burgess said that the two women arrived in Bermuda with a third woman on July 31. A drug-sniffing dog alerted Customs to Carlton. A search of her body revealed two white bands around her thighs, each holding three packages.

Asked then what the packages contained, she said: "Just take it. I don't have a criminal record. Just tell me what happens next."

Carlton admitted importing the drugs. She said Monroy had made all the plans.

She said that Monroy had taken her to a home in downtown Toronto, where the drugs were strapped to both of their bodies.

Carlton told officers: "We were supposed to go to the hotel and drop off our things. I didn't know what was going to happen with the drugs."

A Government analyst found the packages contained 1,912 grams of cannabis with a street value of $95,600. Carlton said she was to have been paid $4000 once she arrived here, for importing the drugs. Monroy went to the Airport Police Station to find out what was happening with Carlton.

After she was told Carlton was being held, she went to the bathroom, and left.

A search of the bathroom later turned up white bands similar to those used to hide the drugs on Carlton. Police later searched the hotel room Monroy was staying in and found a girdle and stockings similar to those used by Carlton. She was then arrested.

Yesterday, lawyers Llewellyn Peniston and Kendrick James representing Monroy and Carlton respectively stressed their clients' youth and clean record.

A tearful Carlton told Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner: "I want to apologise on behalf of myself. I just want another chance to start over.

"I have learnt my lesson, and I have only ended up hurting myself and my loved ones."

Monroy said: "I never meant to hurt anyone. I just want to go back to my four-year-old. "I just want a second chance to prove I'm not that type of person, a criminal."

Mr. Warner responded: "What do you mean you're not that type of person? You're a drug trafficker."

He sentenced both Carlton and Monroy to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment for conspiring to bring drugs to the Island, saying: "This was a cold, callous conspiracy for the money. You said that. You both admitted it.

"The ironic thing is that you said you recognise how nice this place is, but you brought drugs here. We're having major issues caused by drugs, and it must stop."

Carlton, who sobbed openly, was sentenced to an additional two-and-a-half years for importing and possessing cannabis with intent to supply. All three of her sentences were ordered to run concurrently.