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Tuzo thought only juice was in cans

into the Island in juice cans, told Police he did not know what was in the cans and said he intended to sell the juice at a reggae show.

And he stated that he planned to use the syrup to set up a snow cone stall with his daughter, a Supreme Court jury heard yesterday.

Orion and Karen Tuzo, both of Boundary Lane, St.

George's, both deny importation and possession of cannabis valued at $12 million, with intent to supply on March 22, last year.

And when Police and Customs searched the couple's home they found more than $40,000 in US bills stashed in a ceiling cavity.

The drugs were found by a Customs officer who X-rayed the cans of juice and syrup and saw that some of them had gaps. When he opened one package he noticed it had a strong smell of cannabis.

The crates were consigned to jewellers, Astwood Dickinson, and all the paperwork was in the name of Karen Tuzo, but the court was told that another man, Michael Pond, was waiting to collect the boxes. Astwood Dickinson had nothing to do with the order.

When questioned by Police Orion Tuzo said the money found in the ceiling belonged to him and he "worked for it''.

He also said although his wife's name was on the shipment she did not know anything about it and added that he used her name in order to use her peddlers license to bring the shipment in.

However, one Police officer told the court that while investigating the case he learned that a peddlers license was not necessary when importing goods.

Tuzo also told Police he was expecting the juice in bottles not cans, and added "they sent the wrong stuff.'' He also said: "I asked my friend Michael Pond to pick up the shipment. He was not involved in it he was just doing me a favour.'' And when asked again by Police if Pond and his wife knew about the shipment Orion Tuzo replied: "No, none of them do, it was all down to me.'' Tuzo also told Police that it was a mistake that the name Astwood Dickinson was on the shipment.

Earlier the court heard that Police and Customs searched the Tuzo's home and in their bedroom they found a piece of paper with three numbers written on it, one of which matched the airway billing for the consignment of boxes.

Mrs. Tuzo denied any knowledge of the money found in the ceiling Mr. Tuzo was arrested at his home, however his wife was left to turn herself in the following day as the couple had two young children in the house.

The trial today before Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr. Justice Ground.