The trial of a man accused of importing heroin, hidden in cosmetics bottles, to the Island began yesterday in Supreme Court.

The heroin had a street value of $1.7 million.

Michael Anthony Clamens, 23, of Mount Hill, Pembroke, is being tried on three charges -- importation, possession and handling of illicit drugs -- all with intent to supply.

The drugs were sent to Bermuda from Jakarta, Indonesia by international courier. A total of 348 grams of heroin was concealed inside six of 13 bottles of facial cleanser.

Crown counsel Charmaine Smith told the jury yesterday they had to be prepared to determine what was in the mind of Clamens -- based on his behaviour -- in relation to the heroin which arrived in a DHL box on August 21, 1999. Ms Smith told the jury the one issue they must determine "was whether or not (Clamens) knew drugs were in this particular package''. Yesterday, Customs officer Leslie Shadbolt told the court that she became suspicious when she came across an importation bill for $37 worth of cosmetics from Jakarta while on duty at the airport.

Ms Shadbolt said she had the package retrieved from the DHL room and sent it to be X-rayed.

The X-ray showed several bottles of cosmetics and some appeared to contain foreign objects, she said.

Ms Shadbolt then opened one of the bottles. When she emptied the liquid inside she came across a hard object and notified Police narcotics officers. The jury also heard evidence from two Police witnesses yesterday. DC Stephen Palmer told the court that on August 22, 1999 he photographed the DHL package and contents within.

He said he cut open one of the 13 bottles of various facial cleansers in the package and found a plastic bag within containing white powder.

He also said he prepared a "dummy" package to be sent to the DHL office for pick up. DC Brandon Smith then told the jury that he photographed the contents of six of the bottles within the original DHL package. These six bottles contained a white powder substance, he said. DC Smith also said that he photographed and fingerprinted Clamens and another man on that day.

Defence attorney Larry Mussenden chose not to cross-examine the two Police officers or Ms Shadbolt. The trial continues today before Acting Puisne Judge Archibald Warner.