in a follow up question-and-answer session, a Police officer claimed yesterday.

Sgt. Sean Field-Lament made this assertion during the third day of Michael Pond's drugs trial in Supreme Court yesterday.

Pond, 29, of Middle Terrace, Pembroke, is facing a retrial on one count of possessing 527 pounds of cannabis with intent to supply on March 22, 1994.

Last year he was acquitted of importing the drugs worth more than $11.9 million.

Yesterday the crown rested its case and the defence is expected to begin its case this morning.

Sgt. Field-Lament said that Pond initially told him a man called "Mel'' was the one who had the paperwork.

And he came to Pond's home because he needed a helper. Sgt. Field-Lament said that Pond told the officers that he went along with "Mel'' because he needed the work.

But later on in a second interview, Pond admitted that he had the bill of entry and the invoice when "Mel'' came to pick him up around 10 a.m.

Sgt. Field-Lament said that Pond initially said he did not know who the consignee, Karen Tuzo, was but later he admitted that he did know her because she was Orien Tuzo's wife.

And it was Orien Tuzo who had given (Pond) the paperwork to pick up the boxes from the airport.

The 15 boxes of fruit juice and syrup had arrived on an Air Canada flight from Jamaica on March 21, 1994.

Pond said that Orien Tuzo then worked at Gosling's and he wanted the boxes picked up and delivered to his Boundary Lane, St. George's home and placed in the basement.

The next morning, March 22, 1994, Pond went to the airport with "Mel'' to collect the boxes but he was told to come back around 2.30 p.m. When he did so he was arrested because Police had been summoned.

A customs officer on a routine inspection discovered that some of the juice cans that were destined for jeweller Astwood Dickinson contained plant material.

Pond had signed the forms for the goods and these documents were handed over to the Police.

The case continues today before Puisne Judge Richard Ground. Charlene Scott is representing the Crown while Tim Marshall and Kim Wilson appear for the accused.