Multimillion-dollar cocaine trial put off again

WESTERN BUREAU: THE HIGHLY anticipated trial of a former Guardsman employee and another man who were arrested for allegedly transporting cocaine in a service vehicle in 2013 has been put off once again, following the men’s latest appearance in the St James Parish Court on Thursday.

Owen Glaze and Andrew Brown, the two men charged in connection with the incident, had their bails extended until March 7, 2017, when their case was mentioned before presiding magistrate Natalie Hart-Hines.

Although the trial was expected to get under way on Thursday morning, it was rescheduled as the court had a heavy case list with multiple matters to dispose of.

It was also disclosed that the clerk of court with responsibility for overseeing the prosecution of the matter was attending a seminar.

Glaze and Brown, who are facing charges of possession of, dealing in, taking steps to export cocaine, and trafficking cocaine, were arrested on April 20, 2013 by officers from the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency, the Transnational Crime and Narcotics Division, and the Jamaica Defence Force, who were conducting an operation in St James.

It is alleged that during the police operation, the defendants’ vehicle was stopped and searched, and cocaine valued at approximately J$264 million was found in the vehicle.

Since the men were arrested, a number of trial dates have been set, dating back to as far as July 8, 2014. However, on each occasion, the matter has been put off for varying reasons.