A university student whose computer was discovered with $200,000 of drugs inside said he had lent the machine to a friend prior to his visit to Bermuda.

Christopher Lewis said when he collected the computer before departing for the Island, it was all boxed up and packaged as though it was new.

It was only on arrival at Bermuda from Atlanta, when packages of cannabis were discovered in the monitor and central processing unit, that he said he realised there was a problem.

Lewis, 21, of Stadium Lane, Warwick was on his way back to the Island to play soccer for his club, PHC, when he was stopped at Customs.

The 13 packages were revealed, with a total of 8 pounds of cannabis inside.

On investigation, it was found that all the valuable microchips and processing boards had been removed from the central processing unit, rendering it useless.

Foil-wrapped packages of plant material were inside both units.

The defendant said he was calm whilst the drugs were being extracted because he hadn't done anything wrong.

Lewis denies importation, possession with intent to supply and handling cannabis intended for supply on March 7, 1998.

In his defence, Lewis, a student at Alabama A&M University, said he lent the machine to his roommate about a week and a half before coming to Bermuda.

Shortly before leaving for Huntsville Airport, the physical education and criminal justice student picked up the computer, and wrote his name and address on the boxes which housed the machine.

When asked by defence lawyer Marc Telemaque if he put the drugs in the computer, he replied "no''.

And he said there was nothing that indicated to him that there were drugs inside before flying.

Crown Counsel Peter Eccles asked why he didn't tell Police his room mate's name when he was questioned.

Lewis replied: "I thought it would be in my best interests not to answer any questions due to the fact that I had not been arrested before.'' He agreed with Mr. Eccles that he had not mentioned until yesterday that he had lent the computer to someone.

Lewis admitted to driving a friend called Calvin Alexander to Atlanta airport, where he was also bound for Bermuda.

Earlier, P.c. Troy Glasgow said under questioning from Marc Telemaque that Alexander was arrested outside the Airport on the same day.

And he agreed that it was suspicious that he was there, bearing in mind the circumstances.

Under re-examination from Mr. Eccles, P.c. Glasgow said Alexander was found outside the Airport with Lewis' girlfriend, whom he claimed he had never met before but she had agreed to let him stay with her.

Mr. Eccles suggested to Lewis that he was acting as a courier for the drugs while Calvin Alexander was keeping an eye on him to ensure the consignment arrived.

Lewis said: "No, that is not what occurred.'' The jury in the trial, before Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller, is expected to retire to consider its verdict today.