The trial of a cruise ship worker accused of importing $60,000 worth of cannabis began in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Brentley Flynn, 26, of St. Anne's, Jamaica was working as a cleaner on Horizon on May 6 when drugs were allegedly found in his cabin.

Crown witness Customs Officer Wanda Francis told the court she was stationed on the gangway at the Zenith when she and other officers received a tip to go to Number Six Shed where the Horizon was berthed.

Ms Francis said: "We awaited further instruction and we all went on the Horizon.

"Trainee Officer Trott and myself went to cabin 2323 and a second group of officers went to search in another direction.

"The two of us and a Horizon security officer knocked on the door of the cabin and it was opened by a gentleman who identified himself as Clifford Hibbert.

"We explained that we were Bermuda Customs Officers and we wanted to search his cabin."

Ms Francis said: "Mr. Hibbert told them that he shared the cabin with three other men and we proceeded to search his cabin."

Ms Francis told the court she searched in the bathroom and noticed there was a panel loose on the wall.

She said the panel usually has six screws holding it on but she noticed only one.

She got a screwdriver and unscrewed the remaining screw.

When she removed the panel she noticed two packages wrapped in a white rag stuffed between the shower stall and the wall.

"They were rectangular in shape," said Ms Francis.

"I removed them from where I saw them stashed and rested them on the bathroom sink.

"When I opened the white sheets I could see the larger package had two packages of brown taped and a smaller packet.

"I informed Mr. Trott and the ship security with what I had found," replied Ms Francis.

Ms Francis said: "Mr. Hibbert was in the bathroom doorway at the time when I found the drugs.

"I asked him if he knew anything about the packages and he said no.

`My partner and I resumed our search once all the roommates and security members had returned but we found nothing."

All four were arrested and taken to Hamilton Police Station.

"Where there any narcotics officers present?" asked Ms Vaucrosson.

"They joined us eventually," said Ms Francis.

The drugs were turned over to Police, she said.

The four suspects were taken to the Scenes of Crime Unit in Prospect where Government analyst Alan Glasgow opened the packages and found plant material in them.

In cross-examination, defence lawyer Larry Mussenden asked: "So there were four people sharing the room.

"Were all four arrested?"

"Yes," said Ms Francis.

"Where any of the other three interviewed?" asked Mr. Mussenden.

"I don't know. I only witnessed the interview with Flynn," said Ms Francis.

Mr. Mussenden asked: "Do you know who interviewed the others?

"Did you see anyone interviewing them?"

Ms. Francis answered no to both questions.

Mr. Mussenden said: "If they were interviewed then I would like to see the statements.

"It's normal proceedings."

Magistrate William Francis said: "Well Ms Vaucrosson hasn't seen them."

"So the Scenes of Crime Unit took pictures of the room and then did they dust the panel for finger prints?" asked Mr. Mussenden.

"I don't know if they dusted for finger prints," said Ms Francis.

"So would you know when they were dusting for fingerprints?" asked Mr. Mussenden.

"Did you see them dust the panel on the inside and the outside?" asked Mr. Mussenden.

"You are aware that there is no finger print evidence," he said.

"I don't know if they dusted," said Ms Francis.

"So you are clueless?"

"Very clueless," answered Ms Francis.

Mr. Mussenden said: "You would agree with me, you have been a customs officer for ten years and five years on "rummage patrol" and you have never come across people being fingerprinted before.

"You do realise that this is used to help prosecute people."

Ms. Vaucrosson said: "She is a Customs Officer."

"She is here to give evidence," said Mr. Mussenden.

"Why would they take the fingerprints from all the people?

"In your experience, you know what is important and what is not important."

"I know what is important," said Ms Francis.

"Police and Customs Officers know what it means to process a case and if they had his fingerprints, they would've stuck them in the evidence," said Mr. Mussenden.

Mr. Mussenden asked: "If you have a piece of tape and you stick it on your finger, do you not get a finger print?"

"No, I don't know," said Ms Francis.

Mr. Mussenden said: "I'll suggest that they add it to the Customs manual next time.

"What happened to the rags that they were wrapped in?" he asked.

"I don't know. I handed everything to the Scenes of Crime Unit," said Ms Francis.

The trial was adjourned until today.