Cocaine Case Fell apart After Arresting Officers Showed Up Late for Trial

On Monday we reported on the case in which two men were charged with drug trafficking of five kilos of cocaine and possession of firearm and ammunition without a gun license, but freed of the charges. Thirty-three-year-old Carlos Lopez and thirty-seven-year-old Peter Schmidt both walked when their attorney made a ‘no-case submission’ because the arresting officers failed to appear in court.  At the time of the arrest on December seventeenth, 2017, the police spoke of sophisticated operation in which the two were under surveillance at a café in Buttonwood Bay where they were discussing the drug transaction.  So what happened with that operation? Today ACP Joseph Myvett told the media that it wasn’t a case of failure to appear in court, but that the officers were late. And just like that, the case crumbled. Myvett says that there are internal consequences for the officers.

Joseph Myvett

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“That matter remains under investigation. Those persons concerned have since been charged disciplinary wise whilst the investigation continues, an internal investigation into this matter continues. My understanding is that the witnesses did show up but they did show up late and as a result they have since been charged disciplinary whilst the internal investigation continues.”