Appellant Joseph Anthony Santone was convicted of trafficking in cocaine by knowingly bringing into this state and by knowingly being in actual possession of more than 28 grams of a mixture with a purity of more than ten percent cocaine. See generally OCGA §§ 16-13-26 (1) (D); 16-13-31 (a) (1). Held:
1. Appellant’s first enumerated error is that the trial judge erred in overruling appellant’s motion to suppress.
Agent Markonni and Agent Johnson of the DEA were in the Hartsfield International Airport watching passengers deplane from commercial flights arriving from major drug source cities. Appellant was observed getting off a flight from Fort Lauderdale. He was the “very last passenger” to deplane, and was carrying only a small leather tote bag. Appellant sought directions from airline personnel regarding a connecting flight, and Agent Markonni was able to observe appellant’s tiсket. The appellant did not have any baggage claims checks and his ticket had been purchased for cash. The name “Santone” was on the ticket. Agent Markonni next checked the Delta Air Lines reservation computer and discovered that appellant had purchased the ticket the same day and only two hours and fourteen minutes before flighttime. Appellant had left no call-back number with thе airlines. As appellant appeared to have made a “last minute decision” to fly from Fort Lauderdale to Pittsburg, Agent Markonni decided to interview him and observe how he reacted.
Agents Markonni and Johnson went to the departure gate of appellant’s next flight and arrived there before the appellant. When the appellant arrived, the agents “walked up to him” and identified themselves as pоlice officers. Neither agent displayed his firearm. Agent Markonni asked if the appellant would speak with him for a few minutes, and the appellant responded in the affirmative. Agent *790 Markonni then asked to see appellant’s airline ticket, which the latter produced and gave to the agent. The agent verified that the ticket was a cash ticket, issued in the name of Joe Santone, and that it had no baggage claim attached thereto and bore no evidence that one had ever been thereto attached. The ticket was returned to the appellant, and the appellant was askеd if he had any identification. Appellant produced an Ohio driver’s license from an address book which contained no other identification cards. Agent Markonni noticed that the appellant had bеcome “unusually nervous” and that his hand shook as he produced the driver’s license. The appellant stated that he had gone to Florida to look for a job. Agent Markonni returned appellant’s driver’s liсense to him.
At this point, the appellant was informed that the agents were narcotics agents looking for drugs and asked if he would let the agents search him and his bag for drugs. Appellant hesitated and then said “yes.” The agents gave appellant the option either of being searched in the departure gate area or of being searched in a private room. The appellant stated that he wantеd to be searched in private. The appellant was taken to a private room. As soon as they entered the room, the appellant was read his search rights from a card that Agent Markonni сarried. The appellant was specifically advised that he had the right to allow or refuse to allow a search to be made of his person and his personal property; that he had the right to сonsult with an attorney before deciding whether he would allow or refuse to allow the searches; and, that any illegal evidence found could be used against him in a court proceeding. Appellant stаted that he understood his rights and consented to the search. A patdown of appellant revealed nothing; however, cocaine was found in the bottom of a pair of boots in appellant’s tote bag. Laboratory analysis disclosed that the cocaine was 96 percent pure cocaine and that the total weight of the powder was 168 grams. After the drug was discovered, appellant was placed under arrest and was advised of his Miranda rights. Appellant was transported to the agent’s office. During booking procedure, appellant was given a “very thorough search,” and during the course of thе search, he handed the agents a “little cocaine use kit” and a small vial containing cocaine. Appellant said that this latter quantity of drug was for his own personal use.
As a general rule, “ ‘the trial court’s decision on questions of fact and credibility at a suppression hearing must be accepted unless clearly erroneous.’ ”
Jones v. State,
Moreover, our review of the trial transcript reveals no independent basis therein for reversal of the trial judge’s ruling. As in
Miller v. State,
2. Appellant’s second enumeration of error is that the trial court erred in refusing to charge the jury “that the lesser included offense of trafficking in cocaine is possession.”
This case is distinguishable from both
Dalton v. State,
The facts of this case do not reasonably give rise to an issue regarding either the amount and quality of the cocaine confiscated or as to the type of possession, actual or constructive, exercised by the aрpellant. As in
Hernandez v. State,
3. Appellant’s third enumeration оf error is that the trial judge erred in refusing to allow an expert witness for the defense to testify
*792
as to appellant’s drug addiction and treatment as it related to possession and consumption of cocaine. In the trial of cases, irrelevant matter should be excluded. OCGA § 24-2-1. “Admissibility of evidence is a matter which rests largely within the sound discretion of the trial court.”
Lewis v. State,
Moreover, we note that the trial court thereafter gave a limiting-type of instruction to the jury, which not only informed them that certain question asked оf the appellant’s expert witness had been ruled irrelevant and immaterial, but specifically informed them that “the [appellant] is not on trial for selling or distributing any drugs whatsoever.” Subsequently, on cross-examinatiоn of appellant’s expert it was revealed appellant had admitted to the expert that he was carrying almost six ounces of cocaine and that “he had a cocaine habit.” Thus, assuming аrguendo error occurred in refusing to admit the testimony of the expert during direct examination, we are satisfied that using the high probability test any such error was harmless.
Johnson v. State,
4. Appellant’s fourth enumeration of error is thаt the trial court erred “in stating in the presence of the jury its opinion as to the relevance of the testimony of the defense expert.” It is well established that “ ‘[w]here the trial judge is alleged to have madе a prejudicial remark . . . during the course of the trial in violation of [OCGA § 17-8-57], an objection . . . must be made in order to preserve the issue for appeal.’ ”
Barber v. State,
Judgment affirmed.
On Motion for Rehearing.
Appellant asserts that this court failed to consider the record of a suppression motion hearing allegedly filed with this court on March 1, 1988. In fact, the record in question was not filed with the clerk of the court below until March 2, 1988, and was not filed with this court until June 29, 1988. In the interest of fairness, however, we will grant *793 appellant’s motion for rehearing.
We have carefully considered all evidence of record pertaining to this case currently in the possession of and duly filed with this court to include the suppression motion hearing in question.
We find no merit in any of appellant’s enumerations of error.