A university student was caught with drugs worth $200,000 hidden inside a personal computer, a court heard.

The Supreme Court trial of Christopher Lewis was told that eight pounds of cannabis was discovered inside the monitor and central processing unit.

Lewis, 21, of Stadium Lane, Warwick, was caught as he arrived in Bermuda from Atlanta in March last year.

All the valuable microchips and processing boards had been removed from the CPU and 13 foil wrapped plastic bags containing plant material were taken from both units.

The cache was found after customs officers noticed x-ray images inconsistent with the insides of a computer.

Lewis pleaded not guilty to importation, possession with intent to supply and handling cannabis intended for supply on March 7, 1998.

In his opening statement, Crown counsel Peter Eccles said Lewis, a physical education student at Atlanta University, claimed he had brought the computer back for a four-day stay in Bermuda to do some school work.

Customs Officer Rosita Faries told how the computer, in two separate boxes, was x-rayed several times and each time produced images that did not tally with how a normal computer looked.

When asked what the images might be, Lewis did not reply, she said.

Lewis repeatedly said "no comment'' when asked what the packages might be and if he had handled them before.

The officer said he remained calm throughout and there was no reaction when the drugs were discovered.

He had received the computer from a room mate and had been using it for six months.

Major Michael Tucker, head of technology at Bermuda Police, said the monitor, which appeared almost new, was in working order but had some foreign tape and sponge inside.

The hard drive had been stripped of all the microchips, 70 percent of the value of the computer, he said.

It was not in working order and even the power cables had been cut, said Major Tucker.

Under cross examination from Marc Telemaque, Major Tucker admitted that he had not said in his earlier statement that the monitor appeared new.

Customs Officer Adam Barboza told the court that Lewis showed no emotion and appeared nonchalant throughout the proceedings.

The trial, before Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller, continues today.