The trial of accused drug conspirators Kirk Thomas Roberts and Alphonso Cyril Holder bogged down in legal arguments for most of the day yesterday, with only one of the Police officers who arrested both men testifying.

Former champion powerboat racer Roberts, 40, of Sandys, and Holder, 37, of St. Vincent, are charged with conspiring with others, not before the court, to import hundreds of pounds of marijuana to Bermuda in December 2000. Yesterday, Det. Con. Hashim Estwick told the court that he participated in the arrests of both men on December 19 of that year - the day after an alleged late night drug exchange with a passing sailboat. Det. Con. Estwick said Holder tried to run to the bathroom when officers arrived at the Top Hat guest house to arrest him.

When told he was being arrested on suspicion of importing a controlled drugs, Holder replied "I ain't got no drugs," according to Det. Con. Estwick.

When officers searched his belongings in the guest house they found a St. Vincent and Grenadines passport among his belongings. Det. Con. Estwick said after officers found the passport had not been stamped by Immigration, Holder was also informed of the offence of entering Bermuda illegally. He later pleaded guilty to the charge. Holder told the officers he entered Bermuda by sailboat.

Det. Con. Estwick's testimony was cut short by legal arguments which ended the jury's sitting for the day. The trial continues on Monday.