A 20-year-old Devonshire man yesterday denied importing more than $20,000 worth of cannabis inside a stereo unit.

Jamaka Kamal Gibbons, of Long Ridge Pass, faces three Supreme Court charges of importation, possession with intent to supply, and handling for supply of a controlled drug.

Gibbons was arrested on March 2 last year after arriving in Bermuda from New York.

Customs officer Rosita Faries told the eight-woman, four-man jury that her suspicions were aroused when she noticed the shipping box of Gibbon's mini-stereo system appeared to have been opened.

Both Gibbons and the officer then proceeded to the X-ray unit to examine the unit more closely.

Upon discovering "images inconsistent with the inside of a stereo'' Ms Gibbons enlisted the assistance of Customs officer O'Brien Roberts and Det.

Con. Hayden Small.

Mr. Roberts supported Ms Faries' account and said when he asked the accused if there was anything inside the stereo, Gibbons responded that he did not know.

Mr. Roberts then opened the stereo box and discovered "smudges'' and "scratches'' on the casing of the stereo system.

The two detachable speakers and the main component of the stereo were placed through the X-ray machine individually and Gibbons was questioned about the images displayed.

"I see there's something in it,'' Gibbons is reported to have said.

"I just bought the stereo yesterday, nothing should be in it.'' A female passenger travelling with Gibbons was also detained and searched at the airport, but no contraband was discovered.

Gibbons was later taken from the airport to the Narcotics Office where Det.

Con. Small opened one of the speakers.

Two small packages wrapped in black electrical tape and surrounded by newspaper were discovered.

Det. Con. Small said "plant material'' was found when one of the packages was cut open. But Gibbons repeatedly told the officers that he did not know anything about the packages.

He was detained at the Hamilton Police Station under the Misuse of Drugs Act until the officers could obtain the tools necessary to complete dismantling the stereo.

The following day, five similarly wrapped packages were discovered inside the stereo's main unit and second speaker with a total weight of 836 grams.

An expert witness estimated that if the cannabis were sold in 0.5 gram packets, the value would be approximately $21,800.

Gibbon's attorney, Archibald Warner, defended Gibbon's ignorance of the stereo's contents.

"He never attempted to smuggle this or get past Customs,'' Mr. Warner said.

"Gibbons declared and paid duty on that box. In fact, he showed and handed you the receipt for that box.'' The trial continues today with Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller presiding and Charlene Scott representing the Crown.