Michael Douglas Smith, 26, and Zackary Reisenburg, also 26,
both of whom are in custody, appeared in provincial court via video link from Her Majesty’s Penitentiary. Smith’s lawyer, Erin Breen, was in the courtroom, along with duty counsel Richard Deveau, who was filling in for Reisenburg’s lawyer, Candace Summers.
Defence lawyer Randy Piercey was there representing
Blayne Robert Roper, 27, who was released from jail shortly after his arrest.
Since the lawyers don’t yet have all the information from the police evidence package, they and Crown prosecutor Trevor Bridger agreed to set the case over until later this week.
The men were arrested in May in what police called a significant drug bust.
The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit seized 10.5 kilograms of cocaine, 20 kilograms of phenacetin (a cutting agent, which is mixed with the cocaine to make a larger quantity), more than 400 Oxycontin pills, a small amount of LSD and $270,000 in cash.
Police also found scales, phones and other drug paraphernalia.
One of the men was arrested at St. John’s International Airport, another during a traffic stop and another at a residence on Lady Anderson Street in the Kenmount Terrance subdivision, where all three were living.
Smith, Reisenburg and Roper have been charged with trafficking, possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking and possessing property obtained in a crime. Smith also faces counts of breaching court orders.
The police investigation began in March and focused on individuals trafficking in high volumes of cocaine in the city.
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