A 22-year-old American yesterday broke down in tears while testifying at his Supreme Court drugs trial.

Albert Omar Peyton, of Brooklyn, New York, has denied attempting to import close to a quarter million dollars worth of cocaine on May 22.

Peyton fought back the tears as he recalled his arrest after a Customs Officer at the airport found 980.4 grams or $243,166 worth of cocaine in two bottles of baby powder.

The four-man, eight-woman jury heard that Peyton declared an assortment of baby products to Customs officials when arriving in Bermuda.

Upon finding the baby powder in his bags, Peyton said a Customs officer shook the powder and sprayed some into his hands.

While repacking the goods, Peyton said a Police officer approached his bags, prompting another search of his belongings.

He said he lied and told the officers that he had purchased the items himself because he did not want the goods confiscated as they were a present for someone he did not know.

After the officers opened the powder and examined its contents, Peyton said he was taken to a search room at the airport.

When confronted by the officers about the contents of the containers, Peyton said he told them they were for a friend of a man named Mike.

Peyton, breaking down into tears, told the court that he was badgered by the officers who accused him of lying every time he answered their questions.

A tearful Peyton said the exchange took place for about 30 to 45 minutes.

After his arrest, Peyton said, Det. Con. Rudy Richardson encouraged him to cooperate with the Police and told him that if he did, he would be able to return home.

Peyton said he was taken to the Sandpiper Hotel -- where he was supposed to stay -- so officers could try to contact the man named Mike. But the officers were unsuccessful.

The next day, Peyton said he was taken back to the hotel where they tried to contact Mike.

"We finally got through,'' he said. "And Mike said his friend would come to pick up the stuff later and to stay close by (to the hotel).'' But the controlled pick-up was called off when no one showed up to pick up the goods.

Peyton said he returned to Police headquarters where he wrote a statement for Police.

He testified that while writing the statement, Det. Con. Richardson was standing over his shoulders telling him to clarify his statement.

And he said the officer told him to use the word "drugs'' in his statement and to write that he was being paid $1,000 for transporting the containers.

Earlier in the day, Customs officer O'Brien Roberts said Peyton told Police that a man named Mike asked him, during a telephone conversation prior to his trip, that he needed him to drop off some "stuff'' to a friend in Bermuda.

Mr. Roberts said Peyton told Police that Mike gave him two bottles of baby powder, baby oil, baby wipes and some diapers.

He recalled that Peyton was to call Mike, who would tell him about his accommodations and who would be picking up the baby products.

Peyton told Police he called Mike after he arrived at the airport and before he was stopped and searched by Customs officers.

Mr. Roberts said Peyton told Police he only knew Mike for about five months.

And he added that Peyton said Mike told him that the baby products were for a girl named Sharon.

The trial continues today before Chief Justice Austin Ward. Peyton is represented by Renee Foggo and Victoria Pearman while Charlene Scott and Wilhelm Bourne appear for the Crown.