By CECILY ASSON Tuesday, July 10 2012

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Ronnie Mendoza...

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FOUR men were granted a total of $1 million in bail when they appeared in the Siparia Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with trafficking in $10 million worth of cocaine.

They are: Andre Augustine, 32, a “PH” driver of Dass Trace, Enterprise, Chaguanas; Damian Mc Koon, 36, a mason and fabricator of Southern Main Road, Chaguanas; Akiel Jerome, 24, a clothes vendor of La Lune, Moruga and Ronnie Mendoza, 36, an auto straightener of Southern Main Road, Buenos Ayres, Erin.

The men stood before Magistrate Joanne Connor in the First Siparia Magistrate’s Court, who read the charge to them. They were not called upon to plead because the charges were laid indictably. Mc Koon and Augustine were each granted bail in the sum of $150,000, whilst Mendoza and Jerome were granted bail of $350,000 and $400,000 respectively.

The charge stemmed from a raid last week Wednesday by police officers of the Organised Crime Narcotic and Firearm Bureau, during which the men were arrested and charged with trafficking in cocaine.

Yesterday, Court prosecutor Sgt Dridgenath Sookraj, told Connor that the drugs were found in a black plastic bag. They were wrapped in transparent plastic and black rubber.

Mendoza was represented by attorney Ramesh Deena while Keyla Murray appeared for Jerome.

Mendoza and Jerome will re-appear in court on August 6 while Jerome who was jointly charged with Mc Koon and Augustine, are expected to appear in the Point Fortin Magistrate’s Court on August 3.