THREE constables of the New Amsterdam municipality who were fingered in a narcotics bust in that East Berbice town on December 21 last had charges against them dismissed by Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo. The court had set yesterday as the date to conclude the trial, but a prosecution witness failed to have the crucial exhibit in his possession, and the prosecution was consequently forced to close its case without that exhibit. Accordingly, the magistrate ruled that the prosecution had advanced insufficient evidence to implicate the trio of Dwayne Casey, Sherry Burnette and Natasha Cooke, and discharged the trio from the joint charge.

Police had alleged that, on December 21 last, at about 02:00hrs, cops acting on information conducted a search on several persons that had disembarked a boat at the New Amsterdam Municipal Market, having arrived from the Berbice River.

Initially, nothing was found, but plainclothes cops secluded themselves  at the famous Candy Shop on the Matthew Allen Road, and a few minutes later heard persons conversing about eight feet away. It is alleged that one defendant was seen handing over a bulky parcel to another, who concealed same under his vest.

The quartet was arrested and taken to the Central Police Station, where the contents of the parcel were weighed, and it amounted to 380 grammes of marijuana. It was further alleged that one of the four defendants made a written statement under caution, admitting to the offence. (Jeune Bailey Vankeric)