A Canadian charged with smuggling almost $700,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine into the island told police officers that he was unaware the drugs were in his suitcase.

Alexta Gill arrived in Bermuda with his girlfriend on a WestJet flight from Toronto on March 2 last year.

One of the couple’s two suitcases was not put on the aircraft, and it came to Bermuda on another flight two days later.

When searched by customs officers in Mr Gill’s absence, it was found to contain 9,472 grams of cannabis bricks wrapped in black paper and 800 grams of liquid cocaine concealed in a whiskey bottle. The drugs had a street value of $676,736.

Mr Gill was arrested at the Fourways Inn, where he was staying, the following day.

During a Supreme Court trial yesterday, the jury was shown a video recording of an interview Mr Gill gave to two detectives at Hamilton Police Station shortly after his arrest.

Mr Gill, who was accompanied by attorney Bruce Swan during the interview, told the officers that he and his girlfriend had planned to take a vacation in Jamaica, but changed their minds after learning about Bermuda.

The defendant said that they each checked in one suitcase and each also took one carry-on item on to the aircraft.

When they arrived at LF Wade International Airport, one of their suitcases was missing.

Mr Gill said that he approached airline officials, adding: “There were 15 to 20 people in front of me complaining about their bags being taken off the plane.

“They said they took off a lot of bags because of the safety of the plane.”

According to Mr Gill, he was told that the airline would locate his lost suitcase and deliver it to his hotel.

The couple then left the airport with the remainder of their belongings and made their way to the Fourways Inn in Warwick, where they planned to spend their holiday.

Informed by the detectives that his suitcase was found to contain cannabis and cocaine, Mr Gill replied: “I have no idea about that. Really? Found in my bag? I have no idea.

“This is news to me that this stuff was found in my suitcase. When we left Canada, everything was good.

“And then when we got here, I only found one suitcase.”

Mr Gill maintained that the only items he packed in his suitcase were clothing and shoes.

Asked if he knew it was illegal to smuggle drugs into the island, Mr Gill replied: “I’m sure it’s a crime. It’s the first time I’ve come here so I don’t think I would do that to myself.”

Mr Gill said that on the evening of his arrest, he and his girlfriend had gone shopping in Hamilton. He insisted that the couple did not know anyone in Bermuda and did not make contact with anyone here after they arrived.

Mr Gill was also asked why he initially gave a false name to the officer who arrested him.

He said that he did not know that the officer was a policeman, and became fearful for his safety.

He said: “I thought it was someone trying to harm me. That was my reason for lying to him — because I thought my life was in danger.”

Earlier in the trial, the court heard that a search of a pouch carried by Mr Gill when he was arrested uncovered various drug paraphernalia, including a small tray and a pair of scissors, a bullet-shaped grinder, and a heat-sealed bag containing a plantlike material.

The trial, before Puisne Judge Juan Wolffe, continues.

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