of two women who attempted to smuggle more than $100,000 of drugs into the Island.

That was the claim of Crown Counsel Mr. Khamisi Tokunbo at the opening of a double drugs trial in Supreme Court yesterday.

During the course of the trial, handwriting and drug smuggling experts will be testifying in support the Crown's case, he said.

Jacqueline Brangman of Barracks Close and Sharon Tyrell of Silk Alley, St.

George's have denied smuggling more than two kilograms of marijuana into Bermuda. They have also denied possession with intent to supply.

Police and Customs officers arrested the women at the Civil Air Terminal after drugs were found in a suitcase which allegedly belonged to them.

Brangman and Tyrell arrived in Bermuda on October 23, 1993 from Jamaica via New York.

At JFK airport, they checked in three bags before boarding an evening flight to Bermuda, Mr. Tokunbo said.

But on arrival at the Civil Air Terminal, they collected one bag each from the baggage collection and presented them to Customs separately.

"The third bag was left uncollected until a local airline agent paged them to collect it. Meanwhile they were being questioned by Police and narcotics officers.'' A search of the abandoned bag revealed a blue jacket similar to that worn by Airport security.

When Police further examined the jacket, they discovered an inner lining and a makeshift pocket containing two kilograms of plant material, Mr. Tokunbo said.

The baggage claim ticket for the third bag was found in the possession of Tyrell and bore her name and signature.

"Both denied ownership of the bag,'' Mr. Tokunbo said.

Among the first to testify for the Crown was American Airlines employee Hussain Gadit who checked in the women at JFK airport.

He said he processed the tickets of Brangman and Tyrell on October 23 and gave them luggage tags for their three bags.

But under cross-examination by lawyer Mr. Philip Perinchief, Gadit admitted he could not remember the specific bags nor could he say for certain that other bags were not nearby.

Customs officer at the Civil Air Terminal, Leslie Shadbold, said she questioned Brangman.

During the course of the questioning, another Customs officer announced that drugs had been found in the third suitcase, Shannock said.

"Brangman replied: "I don't believe this. What have I got myself into. I don't do drugs'','' she said.