WESTERN BUREAU:

The February 23 case of attempted cocaine smuggling via a Colombian cruise ship has been put off until November 25 due to the absence of a forensic certificate for the case file.

Casey Jones, one of two men implicated in the scheme, had his $1 million bail extended until that date when he appeared before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

Jones, of Windsor Forest in Portland, is charged with possession of, dealing in, and attempted importation of 28 pounds of cocaine. He is jointly charged with Ricardo Chin, a former employee on the cruise ship where the contraband was found.

In court on Thursday, Jones told Resident Magistrate (RM) Vivienne Harris that his lawyer was absent due to being in the St Ann circuit court.

Additionally, the prosecution told the judge that the forensic certificate for the case is still outstanding and requested three weeks to have it placed on file.

RM Harris therefore advised Jones to inform his lawyer of the November 25 return date, at which time the forensic report should be completed.

Jones had turned himself in to the police in the company of his lawyer on February 26, three days after Chin's arrest following the cocaine find on board the cruise ship. The cocaine was found in packages stored inside bathing suits in one of the ship's cabins.