HGP Nightly News Reports : The drug trafficking case against a Region 10 tourism official, identified as Sears, was dismissed on Thursday after a magistrate upheld a no-case submission, ruling that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence for a conviction.
During today’s court session, the defense argued successfully that the prosecution had not established a prima facie case against the accused. Magistrate Rushell Liverpool agreed, finding the evidence lacking and subsequently dismissing the charge.
Sears had been facing accusations of trafficking over 310.71 kilograms (685 pounds) of cannabis, following his arrest in October 2025. The charges arose after police intercepted a minibus near the Old Bamia Police Checkpoint; the vehicle was registered to the Region 10 Tourism Committee Inc. and was being driven by Sears at the time of the search.
Following his initial arrest, Sears was remanded to prison but later successfully applied for $400,000 bail through his legal counsel, Nigel Hughes and Bernard Da Silva.
The case also involved a co-accused, Albert Sandy. During the investigation, Sandy pleaded guilty to the offense and accepted full responsibility for the narcotics, stating that the drugs belonged solely to him. Sandy was previously sentenced to four years in prison for his role in the matter.
