Man denies smuggling cannabis
in marijuana and hashish last year on a charter flight from Jamaica.
And the Supreme Court jury heard that the man repeatedly said "no comment'' when asked by Police about phone numbers in his possession and the people they were registered to.
David Anthony Ray denies importing and possessing 1,838 grams of cannabis on August 11, 1997 after arriving in Bermuda on Miami Air flight 605 chartered by Brown Charters.
Ray, 31, of Pitts Bay Road, also denies importing and possessing 232 grams of cannabis resin.
The eight-woman, four-man jury heard that Ray presented a box to a Customs officer who noted the shallow space in the box.
Customs officer Terrance Smith said he X-rayed the box which revealed a package in a false bottom. He also noted the cardboard bottom was of one piece and there were gaps on the outer edges.
Mr. Smith said he discovered plant material in plastic wrapping but could not say what Ray's demeanour was at the time. But Det. Con. Troy Glasgow, the investigating officer, said Ray appeared nervous in the arrivals hall and did not seem shocked when the drugs were found.
"He only said `that's not mine','' Det. Con. Glasgow added.
Det. Con. Glasgow also testified that Ray claimed he got the box from a Jamaican gypsy cab driver named Vincent after running out of space.
He added that, hours after being arrested, Ray told Police he only knew the name because the man's sister, Claudette Brown, volunteered it while arranging to make a suit for him.
Ray told Police: "That's why I can say that I had been set up by Claudette's brother.'' Ray could not say why he was set up, and speculated it was because he is white. He also admitted that it was a large amount to be set up with, according to Police statements.
Det. Con. Glasgow added that during interviews, Ray was tight-lipped over whether he knew phone numbers in his possession were to the Pelican Grill in Montego Bay, and men named John Barr and Winston Spence.
During cross-examination by Ray's lawyer Richard Hector, Det. Con. Glasgow said he had received information from the Jamaican Police that Barr had a drug conviction for exporting cannabis.
Jamaican Police also told him the Pelican Grill was a known hangout for drug dealers.
Det. Con. Glasgow admitted he questioned Ray about Bermudian Derek Burchall, because he knew Burchall had a drug conviction and was on the same flight.
The Narcotics Department officer said he "only wanted to know the answers'' when Mr. Hector asked if his questions were "a fishing expedition''.
Fellow officer Det. Con. Alickson Severin -- an expert in the street value of drugs -- said the total value of the cannabis would be $91,000 if sold in half gram amounts and $33,000 if sold by the ounce.
He said the cannabis resin would only sell in half gram amounts and would total $13,100. He added that a package of more than 2,000 grams in cannabis was destined for supply.
Under cross-examination, Det. Con. Severin told the jury that in his opinion, a pound of cannabis would sell in Jamaica for between US$50 and US$200.
The trial continues today before Justice Norma Wade Miller. Sandra Bacchus appears for the Crown.