A container which held $500,000 worth of cannabis had cleared Customs but left on the dock to await pickup by a trucker for nearly 16 hours before the 24 pounds of drugs were discovered, a Supreme Court jury heard yesterday.

And the man to which the container had been addressed to denied any knowledge about it's purchase and shipment to Bermuda and said the man accused of importing it ? HWP purchasing and shipping officer Jamel K. Hart ? was only an acquaintance from his time in the Regiment between 1996 and 1999.

"I have no idea how he got my address," Roger Smith said during cross examination by Hart's lawyer Victoria Pearman. "I never gave it to him. I have had no dealings with him or contact with him since the Regiment."

The Benevides Lane, Southampton man said he never ordered a freezer and never lived on 9 Beaches Road, which is the address that was listed on the receipt.

Mr. Smith told the court he "barely" knows Hart from their time in separate companies in the Bermuda Regiment, he added: "I did not ask Hart to act on my behalf and buy a deep freezer."

It is alleged, Hart asked HWP's North American shippers, SeaBreidge International, for a "special request" in the care of HWP to a Roger Smith, of #9 Beach Road, Sandys. However, later the address was changed to 1 Benevides Lane.

Hart, 38, of Farm Lane, Hamilton Parish was charged with importing the 10,953 grams of cannabis on or about July 13, 2003.

The jury heard that Hart arrived at the maritime customs office in Hamilton shortly after 4 p.m. on July 17 2003 and Customs officer Roderick Masters processed Hart's Customs Declaration form and receipt for the goods in the container, with little hassle.

"Mr. Hart told me he was clearing the shipment on behalf of Roger Smith," Mr. Masters said. "He told me Mr. Smith was an employee of HWP group."

Officer Masters said the declaration form was not signed and he informed Hart that he would have to sign for it. He then accepted a $50 bill to pay the customs duty.

Mr. Masters said he was aware that Hart was a senior manager at HWP and in charge of clearing shipments that came in for the company.

After Hart had signed and paid for the duty of the freezer he could have taken the item with him but a truck did not pick it up until July 18.

By that time Customs Officer Leonard Roberts had inspected the freezer and found nine packages of plant-like material hidden inside it.

A Government analyst confirmed that the plant like material was cannabis and said it was approximately 24 pounds worth of the drug, or 10,953 grams.

HWP employee Pamela Pereira, who works in the accounts payable department said it was not company policy to pay customs duty with cash.

She also said that if a company employee brought in goods for their private use in an HWP container customs duty would still be paid for by cheque and the individual would then reimburse the company.

The trial continues today.