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Crown calls last witness in drug trial

his client Larry Ebbin is innocent of charges of drug smuggling.But he will first make what he described yesterday as a "standard submission with regards to both counts''.

his client Larry Ebbin is innocent of charges of drug smuggling.

But he will first make what he described yesterday as a "standard submission with regards to both counts''.

Mr. Warner asked that the estimated 45-minute submission be made in the absence of the jury.

Ebbin, 35, has denied importing cocaine between May 11 and May 20 of 1990 and conspiring to import the drug between October, 1988 and May 17, 1990 with others not before the court.

The crown called its final witness yesterday afternoon, having taken two weeks to present its case against Ebbin.

Jurors have heard testimony from a total of 11 witnesses, including the Government analyst, several narcotics officers, a Cuban drug empire's "man in Bermuda'' and two self-confessed drug couriers. They were also read statements from 13 people by the court clerk.

Key witnesses were US drug couriers Victor Alongi and Angela Trapasso and the manager of the local end of the vast drug smuggling ring, Antonio Miranda.

Alongi has testified he brought more than three kilos of cocaine to Bermuda for the Cubans. He also claimed he made two trips to the Island on his own, selling just over two kilos of cocaine directly to Ebbin and his roommate Dexter Dillas.

He claimed he introduced Ebbin, Dillas and their landlord Ted Ming to the Cubans after they found out about his secret trips and threatened to kill him.

Trapasso has testified she brought some eight kilos of cocaine to Bermuda via commercial airplane, delivering the shipments to Julio Junkie, Alongi and Miranda. She said she partied with Ebbin and Dillas, but never delivered any cocaine to them.

Miranda has told the court he distributed half of some 11 kilos of cocaine directly to Ebbin at his and Dillas' Southampton apartment and sometimes at the Whaler Inn beach club.

Ebbin was arrested on May 18, 1990 during a drug raid on his and Dillas' apartment.

Officers have testified he was waving his arms frantically and had wet his pants when they burst into his one-bedroom apartment.

There were also some shocking claims by narcotics detectives on the stand, including that "Bermuda officials'' and a local lawyer were involved in the 10-year drug conspiracy.

So far the names of the alleged "officials'' have not been revealed, nor the lawyer's identity.

However, Det. Sgt. Alex Arnfield has testified Miranda told Police that lawyer and Opposition MP Julian Hall was his "business partner'' after officers raided his Smith's Parish apartment and found large amounts of cash and cocaine.