changed into Jamaican currency were gifts and loans to friends.

One sum of money, however, matched the value of drugs allegedly imported by Carlston Hollis Spencer in Black and Tan beer cases last April, a narcotics expert claimed.

Yesterday, Spencer, 50, of Harlem Heights Road, Hamilton Parish admitted he made a transfer of $2,000 to Colleen Thomas in New Jersey last year.

But he denied the money was his. It had been given to him by someone else to give to her, he claimed.

Spencer, represented by lawyer Mr. Mark Pettingill, has denied importing and handling about five kilos of marijuana last April.

He added that he made a $600 transfer on March 23 as a loan to a friend. A transfer for $200, he explained, was a gift to finance an Easter vacation for a friend's children.

"Tell the boys to have a good time,'' he wrote on the transfer slip he sent them.

But narcotics trafficking expert, Det. Con. Alickson Severin claimed $2,000 was worth approximately 11 pounds of marijuana in Jamaica -- close to the amount Spencer allegedly imported.

Police discovered drugs stashed inside 56 cases of Black and Tan beer discharged at Number 8 Shed last April.

This week, Det. Sgt. Lightbourne described how narcotics officers successfully busted the drugs operation when they replaced beer cases containing drugs with dummy packages.

A plain clothes Police officer followed a truck carrying the beer to a storeroom adjacent to Hip Hop Fashions boutique, where Spencer was later arrested.

But in a Police statement, Spencer denied any knowledge of the drugs or how they came to be there.

Yesterday, he took the witness stand to give his version of events leading up to his arrest.

A trial shipment of Saranac Black and Tan beer had proved so popular with Bermudians that he returned to his US suppliers in New Jersey twice to arrange for its importation, he claimed.

On one occasion he was asked to pay $5,000 into a US account to guarantee the beer's delivery from Zimbabwe. This, he explained, was the purpose of his foreign bank account in the United States.

In the course of a third trip to New Jersey, he met a new supplier and arranged to buy the beer from him.

But as he was short of cash, he decided not to place an order.

"Money was getting tight. There were no final arrangements made at that point and I told him I would get back to him as soon as possible.'' Spencer was therefore surprised when, following his return to Bermuda, he was told a shipment of beer had arrived for him.

"I was surprised because no one informed me from the US that it had been shipped and I had not sent any money out,'' he said.

After contacting his New Jersey supplier, he set off for the Hamilton Parish storeroom.

"The truck driver was waiting for me outside the building. He said the Police and narcotics had gone through the beer.'' "I said, "Good. I'm glad they did,'' because I had no concern,'' Spencer said.

He unloaded the truck with the driver. As he was loading cases in his van for distribution, Police arrived and arrested him.

Crown Counsel Mr. Peter DeJulio and Mr. Pettingill will make their closing speeches before Puisne Judge Mrs. Justice Wade today.

A verdict is expected on Monday.