Trial date set for men facing drug charges

Several men caught in a drug bust nearly a year ago are expected to finally set a trial date when they return to court later this month.

The accused, most of whom previously pleaded not guilty to numerous charges, were in Lethbridge provincial court Wednesday where they confirmed their earlier pleas and election to be tried by a provincial court judge. The matter was then adjourned to Sept. 28 to schedule a date for trial, likely later in 2018.

Wayne Brown, Mohamed Yusuf Isse, Mohammud Ayah, Walter Courtoreille, Liban Mohamed Hassan and Hanad Warsame face various charges including drug possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of stolen property. Brown also faces weaponsrelated charges.

During the raid Nov. 17, police arrested Isse, Brown and Ayah at a home on Meadowlark Boulevard North, right across the street from Park Meadows Elementary School. A fourth man, Abulghani Yousef, was also arrested but failed to show up for a court hearing and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Police reported that the four men surrendered without resistance after tactical police burst into the home, where they found 243 grams of crack cocaine, four percocet pills, $6,323 in cash and drug paraphernalia.

Following a subsequent court hearing, Isse, Yousef, Brown and Ayah were released on bail, but Isse and Ayah were back in court the following day after police raided another home and charged the two men with more drug-related offences and breaching release conditions. Three other men, Warsame, Courtoreille and Hassan, were also arrested and charged.

A pre-trial conference will be held before Sept. 28 to find a suitable date for a trial, which is expected to run four days.

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