King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) employees took the witness stand yesterday as a drugs importation trial got underway at the Supreme Court.

Andrew James Smith, a 37-year-old Vaucrosson's Crescent Pembroke resident, was arrested and charged with importing more than $360,000 worth of cannabis and possession of the drugs with intent to supply in July last year. Smith has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The alleged offences took place while he was employed in the maintenance department of the King Edward Memorial Hospital.

In his opening statements, Crown counsel Anthony Blackman told the six woman, six man jury that a large crate addressed to the hospital was brought to the Island by commercial airliner July 17. The crate, which was accompanied by documentation stating it contained office supplies, was properly cleared through the airport and delivered to the hospital two days later.

No one at the hospital authorised to order materials had actually ordered the shipment, Mr. Blackman told the jury.

The court heard the crate was addressed to the hospital library and when opened by hospital staff was found to contain computer paper, pencils sharpeners and a false bottom which held four packages wrapped in carbon paper containing cannabis.

Police mounted a sting operation, removing the crate and replacing some of the drugs with control samples before returning it to the hospital's shipping and receiving room.

"The end result," Mr. Blackman said, "is that the defendant Andrew Smith, two other persons, the crate minus some items...were all in the room together. The Police were close enough to observe what was happening in the room." Smith removed the packages containing the drugs and was arrested by Police, according to the Crown.

Defence lawyer Richard Hector questioned Police photographer Detective Constable Jewel Hayward, in an attempt to discredit Police evidence and suggest that the Police had handled the drugs improperly during the sting operation that led to the arrest of his client.

Det. Con. Hayward acknowledged that he had left out crucial information - that the Police had to rip open the false bottom in order to reveal three of the four drugs packages - in an earlier witness statement that had the effect of misleading the court.

"Can you tell this court why you didn't say anything about the bottom having to be ripped open to reveal the other three packages?" asked Mr. Hector. "No particular reason," replied Det. Con. Hayward.

Other prosecution witnesses called yesterday included a customer services agent for Delta Airlines and employees of Rafur Services which cleared and delivered the crate to the hospital. They testified that they handled the package in the routine manner and they were not cross examined by Mr. Hector. The court heard that the package was shipped to Bermuda by a company in Los Angeles, California.

Hospital employees in the materials handling department also took the stand. Rose Scissons, the hospital librarian told the court that she was surprised at the delivery because she had not ordered it and did not recognise the address of the supplier.

Materials handling staff opened the package and discovered the hidden compartment after removing the visible contents.

"I thought it was wrapping," she said when the drugs were shown to her. "I was told this isn't wrapping, this is marijuana."

When the drugs were discovered, the department manager, Cindy Pace was informed and she contacted the Police, the court heard.

Ms Pace testified that she was visited at her home that same day by the defendant who, in the presence of her receptionist, Lewanda Morrison, said : "Name your price - whatever you want can you get me the package ?"

She arranged to call him back and contacted the Police again. Later that evening the Police brought back the crate and Ms Pace, accompanied by Ms Morrison paged the defendant from Point Finger Road, she said.