The possibility that "Bermuda officials'' were behind the alleged importation of marijuana by seven Bermuda Under-23 team members was the main focus of investigation soon after the players were arrested in Miami, Florida on Friday, a source close to the inquiry disclosed on the weekend.

One of the reasons was that the team's arrival from the Pan-Am Games qualifiers in Kingston, Jamaica, coincided with the Summit of the Americas which was going on in Miami, involving 33 heads of state.

There have also been rumours circulating that Customs officials in Miami were tipped off from Bermuda, which could explain why the officials who greeted the tour party after they left the plane began searching them immediately.

It was not until late on Friday night, about 12 hours after their plane landed, that the players were taken to detention facilities, having been interrogated separately at secret locations.

Mr. H.T. Smith, who was appointed that afternoon to represent the players, would not comment on those claims, but did admit he tried for several hours to locate his clients.

Mr. Smith has been hired by the families of Meshach Wade, Keishon Smith, Herbert Dillas, Kevin Jennings, Shawn Riley, Donnie Charles and Tokia Russell to represent them. Russell was due to appear in court yesterday.

"Tokia was not booked into the juvenile facility until after midnight,'' said Mr. Smith.

"I saw four of the young men at the jail located at the airport about 10.30.

They didn't get to the jail until after midnight. For five and a half hours we couldn't find them.

"Richard Thompson (BFA president) was calling, the British Consulate was calling, the Bermuda Government was calling and I had my investigators go to every jail in Dade County and they kept telling us `they're not here'.'' Mr. Smith said it was a nerve-wrecking period for the players' families who were desperate for information. News of the arrests had spread throughout Bermuda within hours.

"The families and the Bermuda football officials were getting nervous because they knew they had been arrested because the coach told them `I'm coming back with seven less players'.

"We had to notify their families that they were okay and to make sure that they had counsel. Then the first place we called was where they were and that was about 9.30.

"The Police report claimed they were arrested at about 5.30 but they were arrested before then. See, arrest is a technical term. They said they were detained before that.'' Mr. Smith said the possibility that the drug was planted in the players' luggage has not been ruled out. There are two theories: 1: That it was planted by Jamaicans at the airport to possibly jeopardise Bermuda's place in the Pan-Am Games next March or; 2: That it was planted for possible retrieval in Bermuda by another person or persons.

A couple of the players were heard to say: "Whoever did this better own up.'' Referring to that theory, Mr. Smith said: "We'll be investigating that much more thoroughly.'' On the first theory he replied: "That is what I have been told from authorities from Bermuda. That is not how the Police are looking at it because the Police had not received any hard information or evidence that led them to believe that the source of the possible set-up was Jamaica.

"What the Police had was information that caused some concern as to whether the kids, themselves, had any knowledge of it or had anything to do with it,'' Mr. Smith explained.

"So the first impression on the Police is if they didn't then somebody who knows them or had access to them may have done it. Our investigation will go along the lines as to what our clients can help us develop.''