A man who swallowed a ganja cigar upon being held by police, paid dearly for his actions on Tuesday when he was fined $5,000 or 10 days imprisonment in the Spanish Town RM Court.

Desmond Campbell pleaded guilty with explanation when he appeared before Resident Magistrate Marcia Dunbar-Green.

"Yu honour I went to a shop wid the spliff in my mouth. I feel a hand pon mi shoulder, si di police and mi swallow it," Campbell said. Having heard the explanation the RM handed down her sentence.

Allegations are that about 6 p.m. on May 10, Campbell was caught with a lit cigar. Upon being accosted he swallowed it. He was charged with smoking ganja.