A man accused of importing $54,000 worth of cannabis hidden in a motorcycle was found guilty yesterday by a Supreme Court jury.

Kevin Shiell, 35, of Sommersall Road, Smiths, denied the charge, plus an additional charge of possessing the drug with intent to supply on January 4 last year. He was found unanimously guilty on both counts.

The court heard during the seven-day trial from Crown prosecutor Carrington Mahoney, that Shiell travelled to Massachusetts from December 2006 until January 2007.

While he was there, he sent a shipment of bike equipment to Bermuda including a muffler. Routine checks on the shipment at the airport by a narcotics team alerted them to the muffler, which was in a shipment of packages addressed to Everest Darrell via his IBC zip-x account.

Officers discovered the cannabis inside and proceeded to monitor the package throughout the rest of the delivery process. When Shiell and Mr. Darrell went to pick up the package at IBC, they were both arrested.

During closing arguments, Mr. Mahoney suggested to the jury the defendant was lying.

"Can you believe this man? If he's willing to lie on insignificant things what will he do to major things? Is that the behaviour of somebody who is telling the truth?"

Mr. Mahoney pointed out during his evidence-in-chief, Shiell spoke softly, hesitated and switched his answers. The prosecutor asked the jury to reject the defence and find that the accused not only had the opportunity to buy the muffler during his trip to Massachusetts but also do whatever needed to be done to have it ready for the shipment.

Shiell's lawyer, Craig Attridge told the jury they must be sure his client brought the cannabis into Bermuda with the intent to supply in order to find him guilty. He told the jury to look closely at the evidence even if it takes a lot of time in order to acquit the accused.

"Bear in mind Mr. Shiell is not a professional witness like the Police officers are. He's just a simple man. The fact of the matter is my client's evidence was not shaken by Mr. Mahoney. It's not sufficient for you to suspect Mr. Shiell. You have to be sure."

Shiell was remanded into custody.