A BIRKBY man accused of opium smuggling was expecting a parcel containing clothes, shoes and gold, a jury heard yesterday.

Ibrahim Yusif, 33, was arrested last July after a package containing nearly five kilos of opium hidden inside ornamental clocks was delivered to a house in Huddersfield.

Although the package, which was initially intercepted by customs officers at East Midlands Airport, was addressed to Yusif’s then girlfriend, Cheryl Page, the prosecution allege that he was expecting the parcel and knew what was inside it.

Yusif, of Scholes Road, Birkby, has denied being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on importing the Class A drug.

Ali Younis told Bradford Crown Court yesterday that he had given his friend, Yusif, a lift to a house after he helped him do some work on his car.

Mr Younis said Yusif told him he was going there to collect a letter, but when they arrived Yusif’s girlfriend said there was a parcel in her name waiting to be delivered and she did not know what it was.

While they were waiting for the parcel he said Yusif told him it did not belong to him.

Mr Younis said his friend told him the parcel was not his and it did not have his name on it.

“He said he was expecting a parcel, but not that one,’’ added Mr Younis. “He said his parcel would contain clothes and shoes.’’

During earlier questioning Mr Younis, who was giving evidence via an interpreter, said Yusif indicated that his parcel may also have contained gold.

When officers intercepted the package from Turkey they

discovered opium worth almost £30,000 hidden inside five clocks. The parcel was eventually delivered by an undercover police officer to the house in Langdale Drive, Dalton, two days later.

Police moved in and arrested Yusif after he was allegedly seen to pick up the parcel and walk away from the house.

Following his arrest he denied any knowledge of the parcel of drugs, but said he had been expecting a package from a friend in Greece.

Miss Page told the jury that a previous package had been delivered to the house, but that had contained clothes and shoes for Yusif.

The trial continues.