A seven-woman, five-man jury handled moe than $200,000 worth of marijuana in their hands and got a first hand look at the drugs which were smuggled into the Island as part of Dean Minors' luggage.

Four large Police evidence bags, containing a total of ten packages weighing nine pounds, were given to the jury to analyse during Minors' trial for allegedly importing the cannabis on January 1, 2001.

Minors was arrested after returning on a flight from Florida in possession of a box of dresser drawer parts containing several packages of marijuana stuffed in them.

On the fifth day of trial, after marathon testimony of Customs Officer Edward Lambert, Crown counsel Vinette Graham-Allen managed to call seven witnesses to the stand yesterday.

A series of expert witnesses testified on the weight and value of the drug as well as well as gave fingerprint evidence collected from the box Minors had in his possession.

Minors, 32, has pleaded not guilty to charges of possession and importation with intent to supply.

He maintained that he given the box by fellow St. George's cricketer Greg Foggo - who was said to be in Florida around the time Minors was.

Government analyst Christine Quigley testified that the drug when weighed was a total of 4,059.6 grams or nine pounds, while Det. Con. Alickson Severin said the drug had a street value of $202,950 - if sold in small yellow pay type envelopes.

He added that because it was in such a large quantity the drug was meant for "sale and distribution".

However, defence lawyer John Perry Q.C. - who had established that when Minors' home was searched on January 1, no drug equipment was found - left the impression with the jury that if Minors was a drug dealer traces of his trade should have been found at his home.

"Yes, however, a drug dealer can give it to a seller," Det. Con. Severin said.

"But if he wants to give it to different suppliers," Mr. Perry said, "then he has to weigh it doesn't he."

"Yes," the officer replied.

Testimony was also given by fingerprint expert Det. Sgt. Peter Thompson, who said he lifted two impressions from off of the adhesive tape on the box that the drugs were packaged in.

And under cross examination by Mr. Perry Q.C., the officer said he could not connect the finger prints of Minors with the ones he took from the tape.

The court also heard that prints were taken from Greg Foggo and Herbie Bascome, but it was not established by either the Crown or defence whether any of their prints matched.

And P.c. Alan Corbutt, who had knowledge in carpentry, analysed the wooden panels that contained the drugs.

He testified that it was "pretty obvious" that the boards containing the drugs were makeshift and not "factory made".

But under cross examination by Mr. Perry he admitted that the "crude and roughly made" panels could have been put together by a carpenter.

The defence has said that Mr. Foggo is a carpenter by trade.

Further testimony from Det. Con. Hatiya DeSilva revealed that Police also conducted an interview with Mr. Foggo, after his arrest on January 3, but said that he made "no comment" answers to questions Police asked concerning the case.

The trial continues today, before Assistant Justice Archibald Warner.