After country star WILLIE NELSONВ got arrested in Texas last weekВ now it's PHIL RUDD's turn.

Stuff.co.nz has issued the following report:

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd was convicted of cannabis possession in a Tauranga courtВ on TuesdayВ morning. It is the first time Rudd has been convicted of a drug offence, SunLive website reported.

Police discovered the drugs when they executed a search warrant on Rudd's launch at the Tauranga Bridge Marina on October 7th. Inside they found 25 grams of cannabis and a further two grams of cannabis at another location on the boat.

Rudd's lawyer, Craig Tuck, asked community magistrate Robyn Paterson to discharge him without conviction because the "low level" offence could hinder his chances of travelling internationally.

Tuck told Tauranga District Court that Rudd spent nine months travelling the globe with AC/DC in 2009, earning $400 million from concerts. "Over the last nine months, at least 20 countries have been entered," Tuck said.

"He travels extensively around the globe, across the planet, and on the basis of such criminality, which is low level offending, he is being targeted."