father-of-three who helped run an illegal operation to smuggle drugs into Bermuda in FedEx packages has been jailed.

Shannon Berkley was sentenced to five years behind bars today after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to import a controlled drug.

The Supreme Court heard that police used mobile phone records to link the 42-year-old Bermudian to the enterprise.

Prosecutors had alleged he used the services of customs officer Bromwin Thompson, who worked at FedEx, to help avoid detection.

Mr Thompson, 36, was also accused of being involved in the plot to bring the cannabis into Bermuda and stood trial in April.

But a jury cleared him of one charge and was unable to reach a verdict on the second charge.

In June prosecutors announced that they would not pursue a retrial and Mr Thompson was discharged.

Police intercepted two packages of cannabis and cannabis resin in May 2009 when they arrived in Bermuda.

The drugs were stashed in a coffee maker and three books. They had been addressed to a restaurant on South Shore and a shop in St George’s without the recipients’ knowledge.

The drugs would have fetched over $50,000 if they had been sold on the streets of Bermuda.

Today Berkley, 42, was jailed for five years at Supreme Court.

He told the court: “I am very sorry that this case has come before this court and I am sorry to my family and my wife.

“I just want to put my wrong doings behind me now and get on with my life.”

The court heard that Berkley was jailed for six months in July 2009 for possessing a controlled drug with intent to supply.

Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves said: “The defendant has shown himself to be a sophisticated businessman in the illicit drugs industry.

“In this case he seems to have set up a sophisticated scheme and was able to employ the services of a public servant.

“This strikes at the heart of the confidence of the citizen.