Two men appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday on separate charges of cannabis possession.

Richard Philips, 26, of Sandys, admitted having more than eight grams of marijuana within 100 metres of Westgate Correctional Facility, an increased penalty zone.

In a separate matter 31-year-old Wolde Gardener, of St. George's, admitted possessing 5.94 grams of cannabis.

The court heard Philips was riding in a car with three other men near Pender Road in Sandys in the early hours of July 11.

Police on patrol in the area saw the front seat passenger open the door and throw a white item onto the ground.

Officers approached the car and noticed a white paper twist containing plant material on the ground.

They cautioned the man they later learned was Philips. He denied the item was his.

Questioned further, he said: "I am not getting locked up. You will see. You don't know who I am."

They informed Philips and the other passengers in the vehicle they would be searched.

Two clear plastic twists with plant-like material was found.

Philips was arrested. Once at Somerset Police Station he admitted the items seized were his.

A Government analyst later found the twist contained 8.42 grams of cannabis.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo fined Philips $2,000 for the offence. He was given until December 20 to pay.

Meanwhile the court heard Gardener was arrested by officers on an unrelated matter on July 26 and taken to Southside Police Station.

Officers noticed he was fidgeting with something in his pocket during a search.

They then saw something drop from his pants leg, which he tried to conceal with his foot.

The officers found a plastic bag containing dried plant material and arrested him on suspicion of being in possession of a controlled drug.

Yesterday the court heard Gardener had other convictions of a similar nature, but he said: "It's been some time since I have been caught with cannabis."

He was fined $1,000 and given until December 31 to pay or face 100 days in prison in default.