Man freed of drug charge

Nickoli Perez, of Febeau Village, San Juan, was before Justice Larry Lalla charged with possession of just under one kilogramme of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. After deliberating for one hour and 30 minutes, the nine-member jury returned a not guilty verdict.

According to the arguments presented by State attorneys Candia James and Nalini Singh, Perez was apprehended with the illegal narcotic hidden in his backpack at the Government Shipping Service Terminal building at Queen’s Wharf, Port-of-Spain, on September 5, 2001.

In his defence, Perez said the cocaine was planted in his backpack.

Perez was represented by attorneys Mario Merritt and Kathy-Ann Motley.