The Supreme Court heard evidence yesterday of a series of WhatsApp messages allegedly detailing a plan to buy a firearm and ammunition.

During the September 2023 exchange, a phone attributed to Taijuan Davis contacted a phone attributed to Jonah Smith stating that people were attempting to obtain a “compact” and “teeth” a little more than a year before the two men were arrested.

Marc Daniels, counsel for Mr Smith, suggested that his client’s response to the messages were dismissive.

During the conversation, Davis’s phone messaged Mr Smith stating: “Certain ppls got me a spot on their move for a lighter so I’m trying to get guys to come together to put for another one.”

Mr Smith’s phone later responded to the message stating: “OK OK”.

A subsequent message from Davis’s phone said: “Me and Red are already putting in for one, but I want guys to come together to put in for another so guys are secure.”

The conversation continued with messages sent from Davis’s phone stating that they could get a “compact” and a box of “teeth” for $3,200.

The conversation ended after Mr Smith’s phone sent a message stating that guys should be “talking on person”.

A police expert told the court that “lighter” is used to refer to a firearm, while “compact” is a term used for smaller firearms and “teeth” is slang for bullets.

Mr Smith has denied charges that he conspired with others to import more than seven kilograms of cannabis, two firearms and 24 rounds of ammunition between an unknown date and September 24, 2024.

Previously the court heard that police discovered the contraband hidden in a false bottom of a wooden crate shipped to Bermuda.

The drugs and weapons were replaced with dummy packages and, after the crate was collected on September 30, police followed it to Mr Smith’s home, where he was found holding an electric drill. He was arrested.

Davis and another man, Malachai Paynter, were also arrested and subsequently pleaded guilty to being involved with the plot.

The court heard that Davis allegedly masterminded the plot while Paynter travelled to Florida to purchase the drugs and organise the shipment, with his name and address used on the package.

Mr Smith told police he had no knowledge of the contents of the crate and that he was involved only because he did not want to lend power tools.

As the trial continued yesterday, Detective Constable Warren Bundy told the court that the cannabis recovered could be sold for slightly more than $730,000 if sold by the gram in Bermuda.

He added that the amount suggested that it was intended for distribution rather than personal use.

Questioned about the WhatsApp messages, Mr Bundy said that those involved with the drug trade are known to obtain firearms for their protection.

“It’s very common for persons who are in a high level to have a firearm to protect them from rival gangs, from rival competitors,” he said.

During cross-examination, Mr Daniels compared the cannabis industry to the alcohol industry, suggesting that retailers may have an interest in alcohol being brought to the island by distributors, but it did not mean they are privy to the contracts the distributors have with their suppliers.

Mr Bundy agreed, and further accepted that those who sell cannabis at the street level may not be aware who imported the drugs into the island, but added: “On some occasions they themselves are the importers.”

Mr Daniels also asked for Mr Bundy’s opinion on a document recovered from Davis’s phone that appeared to make reference to 13lb of cannabis divided by strain.

Mr Bundy said the document appeared to be a distribution list, which included the name “Jonah” along with amounts of cannabis to be paid for on the “back end”.

The trial continues.

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