A defendant in a drugs trial yesterday denied sending his companion to unwittingly collect packages containing $300,000 of cocaine from Federal Express.

Lawyer Rick Woolridge repeatedly suggested Raynol Todd, 51, was the brains behind a foiled attempt to import the substance from Trinidad and Tobago — and had sent co-accused Andre Hill into FedEx to "do his bidding for him".

Todd repeatedly replied he did not know what Mr. Woolridge was talking about.

The trial has previously heard how Hill, 53, collected three boxes containing cocaine from FedEx on Christmas Eve 2004. However, a Customs Officer had already alerted Police to the packages' contents, and Hill was arrested as he left the office with the boxes.

He allegedly told the officers the packages were for Todd, who was waiting in the nearby Belco parking lot. Police found him there in a car and arrested him.

Taking to the stand on the seventh day of the trial yesterday, Todd said he had given Hill a lift into Hamilton on Christmas Eve and dropped him off in Front Street. He claimed the pair had not discussed Hill going to FedEx.

Todd then went to Belco because, he said, he was a former electrician. He decided to relax in his car as he had a bad back and needed to "cool out".

"I was not involved in a conspiracy to bring drugs into Bermuda," he said.

However, he then faced an afternoon of cross-examination from Mr. Woolridge, who represents Hill. Mr. Woolridge said he believed Todd asked Hill to collect his parcels from FedEx because he was too busy himself and could not lift them because of his bad back. Todd denied the accusation.

Mr. Woolridge then pointed to a number of coincidences which, he claimed, undermined Todd's story. He said an address on the shipment belonged to Todd's friend; phone records showed Todd making calls to Trinidad; Todd's friend 'Angie' lives in Trinidad; the shipment was consigned to Angela Bassett.

Mr. Woolridge continued: "The person who goes to FedEx to pick it up (Hill) happens to be someone to whom you gave a lift. Correct?"

Todd answered: "Guess so, yeah."

"All those coincidences add up to one thing, and that is that you asked Mr. Hill to go to FedEx to pick up that package for you, didn't you?"

"No, Mr. Woolridge."

"It's true to say this: the miraculous urge for you to rest at Belco because your back hurt is complete and utter nonsense, isn't it?"

The lawyer later concluded: "You dropped him back at FedEx and you told him you would wait for him. I put it to you that you were using Mr. Hill to do your bidding. You haven't even discussed with him what he was going to pick up."

"No, I don't know what you are talking about," said Todd.

"I suggest you preyed upon his ignorance," said Mr. Woolridge.

"I don't know what you are talking about," repeated Todd.

Hill and Todd deny conspiring to import the cocaine, with Hill also pleading not guilty to an allegation of handling the drugs with intent to supply them.The case continues today.