Two men accused of conspiring to send drugs worth almost £500,000 to Australia told police they had no knowledge of the attempted shipment, a court heard.

David Hamberger, 58, allegedly recruited Scott Dawson, 29, a shipping clerk at Crawley engineering firm KDG, to help him send a package containing 35,000 ecstasy tablets and 18kg of amphetamine sulphate to Sydney in 2000.

National Crime Squad officers had observed a series of meetings between the two in the days running up to the attempted shipment, Hove Crown Court heard.

When they were arrested they told officers they were friends who were considering going into business together selling cigarettes and clothes, it is alleged.

The court was read transcripts of separate interviews between Detective Constable Gary Waplington and the two suspects.

Dawson, of Carlton Avenue, Bognor, said he had struck up a friendship with Hamberger after meeting him at a quiz at the Lion pub in Pagham in March 2000.

He said they talked about starting an internet company selling imported cigarettes and met several times in the following weeks to drink, play golf or talk business.

DC Waplington asked Dawson about a meeting he had with Hamberger at the Little Chef near Fontwell race course when he was overheard by undercover officers.

Hamberger was allegedly heard telling Dawson: "The parcel must go by Thursday so it marries up with the two other parcels." Later he allegedly said: "I'll take another five if you can get rid of 30."

DC Waplington asked Dawson: "Is it not a coincidence that you were talking about sending a parcel by Thursday and getting rid of 35 of something and, lo and behold, the parcel in question, which contained 35 bags of 1,000 ecstasy tablets, was sent from your office on that Thursday?"

Dawson told the officer he had no recollection of the conversation in the Little Chef after taking advice from his solicitor, the court heard.

DC Waplington previously told the court how, during the undercover operation, he found the package of drugs under Dawson's desk at work. The drugs were replaced with dummies and days later sent to Australia from KDG via a DHL courier, the court heard.

A corrupt customs official knew the box was being tracked by police and tipped off whoever was supposed to be collecting it in Australia, it is alleged.

Dawson admitted in the interview he had repacked the box but said he thought it contained company marketing materials.

He denied he had conspired with David Hamberger to create false paperwork to allow drugs to be sent abroad from KDG.

He also denied sending a fax to Hamberger, under an assumed name, allegedly telling him in code the drugs had arrived at KDG, the court heard.

A statement from a handwriting expert read to the jury "strongly supported" the assertion Dawson had written the fax, which was sent from a sweet shop around the corner from his office in Crawley.

Hamberger, of Barking, Essex, and Dawson deny two counts of conspiring to export drugs. The case continues.