A car washer said he did not know a package containing Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans hid a stash of almost $60,000 worth of cannabis.

Kevin Wayne Smith, who denies a charge of possessing the cannabis, said he picked up the package of coffee from a Federal Express office as a favour to a gambling friend who the court head has since absconded.

Smith, 47, of Union Street, has pleaded not guilty to possessing 1,195 grammes of cannabis on May 28, 2003.

His Supreme Court trial started on Thursday when the court heard the cannabis was discovered in a Federal Express package sent from Negril District, Jamaica to the pseudonym of Sadie Furtardo, Paget, Bermuda.

Smith has not denied picking up the package from the Federal Express office on Serpentine Road on May 28, but denies knowing the package contained drugs.

Police intercepted the package on May 23 and launched a sting operation, which involved Smith dropping the package off to a second unidentified man not before the courts.

Smith told the seven-woman, five-man jury he did not think it was out of the ordinary to be asked to pick up a package.

"The person who asked me to pick it up, we gambled together," Smith said on Friday. "He said he had a doctor's appointment and asked me if I would run an errand. He said there was some stuff in there from his baby's mother."

However, when Smith got to the Serpentine Road office, he said he saw a Police van parked outside and got suspicious.

"I saw a Police paddy wagon before I went inside," Smith said. "I asked him if there were any drugs in there. He told me no. I started to get suspicious of him coming out and looking for me to do it. That is why I asked him."

Smith told the jury how he was apprehended by Police as soon as he left the office.

"I handed them the box. I said 'If there's any drugs in here I didn't know. I was running an errand'. They asked me where was the guy I came to pick it up for."

At the drop-off, the unidentified man had a child in a car with him, Smith said.

"He said to open the back door and rest it back there for him," he said.

"Did you ever have any knowledge there was drugs in the package," Mr. Woolridge asked.

"Not really," Smith replied. "Not until we opened it up at Prospect."

However, under cross-examination by Crown counsel Shakira Dill, Smith could not find in the Police statements where he asked whether drugs were in the package.

"I can't remember where," Smith replied. "It could have been off the record."

He said he was concerned about the ill-effects of illegal drugs on society.

He also did not remember telling Police something illegal had to be in the box.

"Honestly, I did not know what was in that box," Smith said.

The officer in charge of Smith's case? Det. Con. Curly Mitchell? said the second identified man was currently a fugitive from the law.

"Was the other person required to make bail requirements?" defence lawyer Rick Woolridge asked the Narcotics detective.

"The person was required to appear in court," Det. Con. Mitchell replied. "But during the court process he did not attend."

"The other person absconded ? to put it in a word ? didn't he?" Mr. Woolridge said.

Det. Con. Mitchell agreed.

The Constable also said he was aware that Smith was only due to collect $30 to $50 for collecting a package of drug-filled coffee beans, however, disagreed that this figure amounted to nothing.

"Compared to an average man who makes around $20 an hour he picked up a package and made more than that which took him less than an hour," Det. Con. Mitchell said.

After continued questioning by defence counsel the detective agreed that an average man did not get $20 an hour for collecting drugs.

And Smith made two calls to the unidentified second man to organise the drop-off near Dundonald Street, P.c. Mitchell said.

"He always maintained the other person was the one who sent for the package didn't he?" Mr. Woolridge asked.

Det. Con. Mitchell agreed.

The prosecution rested its case.

The trial continues on Monday before Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves.