A Jamaican national was unanimously found guilty of possessing over $140,000 of cocaine yesterday.

It took a Supreme Court jury under two hours to convict Leighton Horace Griffiths, 33, of King Street, Pembroke of having in his possession 480.52 grams — $144,500 street value of the controlled drug cocaine with the intent to supply.

He was arrested on July 1, 2005 when he went to the LF Wade International Airport to collect a Delta Home Air Compressor stuffed with drugs

Griffiths was represented by defence lawyer Mark Pettingill while Robert Welling represented the Crown.

During the trial, Mr. Welling brought forth a Customs Officer, Police officers and three representatives from communications companies to give evidence against Griffiths.

Customs Officer Andrea McKey told the jury a package containing an air compressor came into Bermuda from a Denise Robinson in Ontario, Canada to a Paul Slagel in Tucker's Town on an Air Canada flight on July 1, 2005. She inspected the package because she thought it was suspicious.

Ms McKey notified the Police who came and inspected the box then put it back to see who would pick it up.

The witness said the defendant came that same day, picked up the compressor and was arrested on his way to the car park by Detective Constable Windol Thorpe and Detective Constable Roger Saints.

In his evidence, Det. Con. Thorpe said when he arrested Griffiths, the defendant told him someone sent him for the package and pointed to a grey Nissan van travelling east by the taxi stand at the Airport.

The officer said he and Det. Con. Saints along with the defendant drove up to the van and arrested the two men — Wilton (Bigga) Woolridge and Shaki Darrell.

Ankeysha Place of M3 wireless told the court there had been numerous calls made from a M3 cell phone number 336-2721 to 735-7077, 505-7077 and 296-9030 between June 16 and July 1.

She was unable to say who made the calls or from where they were made.

Michael Leverock, chief operating officer of CellularOne told the court a contract cell phone with the number 735-7077 was activated on June 25, 2005 by Mr. Woolridge — the man whom Griffiths claimed sent him to pick up the package.

Karen Carlington, manager at TeleBermuda International said the only records she had were either incoming and outgoing long distance calls or calls made by a Bermuda cell phone overseas.

She told the jury there had been numerous calls to a Jamaica and Toronto number from 336-2761. She also told the court she couldn't say from where the calls were made or who made them.

Griffiths is remanded in custody until his sentencing this morning.