Sean Bell pal Trent Benefield tried to avoid a drug arrest by gulping down the remains of his marijuana-stuffed cigar after cops spotted him brazenly smoking the blunt on the street, police sources said yesterday.

“You have nothing on me, I ate it!” he told cops, after they allegedly smelled a strong pot odor and saw him smoking at about 1:15 p.m. at 146-21 Rockaway Blvd. in Jamaica, Queens.

Despite Benefield’s legal interpretation, he was arrested for felony tampering with evidence and obstructing governmental administration. He was released without bail yesterday.

Benefield was with Bell when the groom-to-be was killed by cops who fired 50 shots on Nov. 25, 2006, as he left a strip club after his bachelor party.

Benefield, who was wounded that night, sued the city and won $900,000.

This is Benefield’s third arrest since the Bell shooting.