Cocaine packet goes missing

After PC Lyndon Russell, of the Organised Crime and Narcotic Unit (OCNU), yesterday replaced the 32 packets of the illegal narcotic in the same way he had found them in her suitcase when he had made the bust on June 17, 2004, the accused Adriana Teuben pointed out that one of the packets was missing.

This prompted snickers from the jury and Justice Larry Lalla warned her attorney Mario Merritt to caution his client.

Teuben, 51, of the Netherlands is charged with possession of 32.5 kilos of cocaine, which has an estimated local street value of $1.4 million. It was allegedly found in a hidden compartment of a suitcase at a BWIA baggage shed at the Piarco International Airport.

Another witness, PC Arthur Nathan, of OCNU, also gave evidence yesterday.

The State was represented by attorneys Joy Balkaran and Shoba Jamunar.

Hearing resumes today.