after being branded "the big fish'' in a drug trafficking operation to the Caribbean.

Prosecutors pushed for the conviction at Tucker's trail in St. Maarten yesterday. But the Odyssey nightclub boss is denying importing four pounds of cocaine into the island in June, claiming he is being framed by his three co-defendants.

Tucker did admit to have helped pack one of five lamps which were used to bring the drugs onto St. Maarten and confessed to staying at the hotel where the drugs were found. But he said that he lied in statements to Police to protect a co-defendant.

The court heard how Tucker approached Marc Beauvil while on the Island and asked him to recruit a drugs mule. He then bought ex-con Michael Breed an airline ticket to Bermuda and paid him $1,100 to bring back $34,000 cash.

But Breed was picked up by Police at Bermuda International airport and the cash was confiscated.

Tucker claims that the cash was needed to finance a business operation in St.

Maarten, saying that he planned to open a boutique.

But St. Maarten's public prosecutor Rob Geradts said that the amount of cash showed that Tucker was the `Mr. Big' behind the operation.

"The amount of money being transacted between Tucker and his father makes it clear that he is involved in drugs trafficking and he should be put away for some time so others can learn a lesson,'' Mr. Geradts said.

All three of Tucker's co-defendants gave damning testimony against him when their cases were heard two weeks ago. They claimed that Tucker had offered them jobs at his club and paid for them to travel to Curacao, where the drugs were picked up, packed and taken back to St. Maarten. All four men were arrested at a hotel in Philipsburg, the island's capital, during a Police swoop in June. The drugs were also seized during the raid.

The trial judge will deliver his verdict and any possible sentencing on all four accused in two weeks.

BERMUDIAN BDA