Two men yesterday pleaded guilty to importing more than $800,000 worth of cannabis into the Island moments before the start of their Supreme Court hearing.

Kyle Ingham, 25, and Kenneth Butterfield, 33, were to stand trial on charges they conspired to import cannabis between dates unknown and November 2, 2008.

When the charges were read in Supreme Court, both defendants denied a charge of conspiring to import cannabis but admitted to importation.

They were charged with a third man, Dennis Wright, and "persons unknown".

Wright did not appear in court yesterday.

Crown counsel Robert Welling said: "I'm going to invite your lordship to issue a warrant for Mr. Wright. This date has been set since the first of June. There's no question that he was aware he should be here today.

"There's information that he left the jurisdiction in September."

The amount of cannabis was 17 kilos it carries a street value of $850,750 in Bermuda. Butterfield's lawyer Elizabeth Christopher asked for a Social Inquiry Report to be prepared for her client; Ingham's lawyer Charles Richardson asked for the same.

Puisne Judge Carlise Greaves said: "Defendants Kenneth Butterfield and Kyle Ingham are remanded in custody and shall submit to a Social Inquiry Report pending sentencing.

"The matter is to be mentioned on December 1 unless a sentencing date is earlier available."

He continued: "Count two in respect of Butterfield and Ingham shall remain on file not to be proceeded with.

"A warrant of arrest will be issued for the defendant Wright. His sureties shall be summoned to appear before this court at the earliest time."