of cocaine, Supreme Court heard yesterday.

James N. Samuels was arrested as he was about to hand over 144 grams of 66 percent pure cocaine to a friend waiting near the Royal Navy Field in Somerset, Crown counsel Brian Calhoun said.

According to Samuels, the court heard, the friend was a local man called "Smith'' or "Smithy'' whom he had known for five or six years. He had collected US$15,000 from Smith a few days earlier, and was due another $5,000 on or before delivery. The day before his arrest, Samuels told Police, he had taken the money to St. David's and picked up the drug from an American called "Tommy Hunt'', whom he had known for about 20 years.

Neither Smith nor Tommy Hunt have been traced by Police, the court heard. Mr.

Richard Hector, defending, said Samuels had co-operated with Police. He had not worked since 1989 because of a severe road accident injury.

Samuels, a divorced man of Clarke's Lane, Pembroke, admitted handling cocaine with intent to supply on January 18. Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr. Justice Ward adjourned the case for a social inquiry report. Bail was extended.