A travelling salesman who brought two bottles of cocaine-laced rum valued at at least $90,000 to Bermuda was found guilty yesterday by a Supreme Court jury and will learn his fate next week.

The jury deliberated for just over three hours before finding Clifton Hopeton Morrison, 38, of St. Ann's Parish, Jamaica, guilty of possession of cocaine, and possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

The court heard during the two-week trial that Morrison was owed money by customers of his auto parts company. During a bus trip to Westmoreland in Jamaica he met a man called Jabba and discussed his money woes.

Jabba asked Morrison to bring the contraband to Bermuda for a local woman for $5,000. The woman later gave evidence and denied knowing Morrison who said he was to collect a large sum of money and take it back to Jamaica in a suitcase to Jabba.

The court heard that Morrison refused an earlier offer of $3,000 because the money offered was not enough to meet his financial needs. The arrangement was for payment of $3,000 to Morrison in advance and a further $2,000 on his return to Jamaica.

Morrison told the court he only knew Jabba for six months before sealing the deal to transport the rum bottles here for money. The two men met several times to fine-tune the deal.

The father of three made several allegations during the trial against Police and Customs officials. All these claims were denied by investigating officers.

He admitted under cross-examination by Crown Counsel Sandra Bacchus he lied to these officers on several occasions. When asked why he lied to the Customs official on his arrival in Bermuda, he said he was taking responsibility for the bottles.

Morrison accused Det. Con. Dennis Astwood of not telling him he had been arrested and was under caution. However, the court heard Morrison had signed all notes and statements relating to the case. It was said he was cautioned before his arrest, and was issued a form telling him of his rights at the airport police station.

After failing to tell the truth in two Police interviews he decided to bare his chest in the third one.

He told Police he was sorry for the embarrassment he had caused his family in Jamaica.

However, at the trial Morrison claimed the Police promised him `a small smack on the wrist' if he cooperated with them.

Morrison claimed throughout the trial that the Police tampered with his statements and recorded things he did not say.

It was said Morrison went into a duty-free shop at the airport in Jamaica to compare the bottles in his possession with others on the shelf. He claimed he checked the seals of the rum given to him by Jabba and they appeared OK.

He also asked Jabba if the bottles had cocaine in them.

Morrison claimed one of the bottles was opened in Miami by a Customs officer and then returned to him.

In addressing the jury Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller told them not to allow their judgment to be clouded. They were not to feel sorry for Morrison because he was thousands of miles away from home, the judge said.

Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller told the jury the accused had to satisfy them that his story is true or probably true in order for him to acquit him.

"He must prove he neither knew, nor suspected there was cocaine,'' she said.

Expert evidence was given earlier by Det. Sgt. Dennis Gordon that the rum bottles contained just over a pound of cocaine. The estimated street value he said was over $300,000 at the highest limit, and $90,000 at the lowest.

The Crown's case was presented by Crown Counsel Sandra Bacchus. Victoria Pearman appeared on behalf of Morrison.

Sentencing is set for Wednesday.