By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE trial into an alleged gun smuggling operation that was uncovered at Arawak Cay last summer has been further adjourned to November of this year.

Kenyon Reheed Symonette, Philip Farquharson, Terell Cox, Paul Clare and Laris Thompson appeared in Magistrate’s Court yesterday for their case concerning a major weapons seizure on June 16, 2015.

They face 10 counts of importation of a firearm into the country, 10 counts of possession of a firearm and conspiracy to import firearms. They have denied the allegations.

The trial, which was continuously delayed due to non-appearance of witnesses, was to be heard before Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes after receiving the matter from his predecessor Joyann Ferguson-Pratt.

However, the case was transferred yesterday to another court presided over by Magistrate Constance Delancy.

The accused are now scheduled to return to Magistrate’s Court on November 9 for trial.

According to police reports, on Tuesday, June 16, Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) officers conducted a major operation, which resulted in the arrest of two persons and the recovery of eight illegal weapons.

Shortly after 5pm on the day in question, DEU officers followed two men from the Arawak Cay Port and made an interdiction a short time later.

During a search of a vehicle, officers discovered two packages consisting of eight illegal weapons. Murrio Ducille, Tecoyo Bridgewater, Larisha Thompson, Kenyon Symonette and Halson Moultrie have been retained to represent them.