The case of Ms Ilida Darboso Dacosta, who was intercepted at the Banjul International Airport on suspicion of attempting to smuggle cocaine out of the country, could not still go to trial.

Ms Dacosta was sometime this year arraigned before the Brikama Magistrates’ Court where she was formally charged with drug trafficking offences.

But since the mention of the matter months ago, the prosecution is yet to open the case for a full trial. The matter was supposed to proceed on Thursday of last week but it couldn’t thanks to the absence of the defense counsel from court.

It would be recalled that Ilida Darboso Dacosta, a Nigerian, was arrested at the country’s only airport on suspicion of attempting to smuggle 2kg and 260g of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

She denies the allegations and her lawyer, Amie Joof-Conteh, is now left with the onus of exonerating her by exploring legal possibilities.