A former female police officer arrested on suspicion of trying to export drugs earlier this year was yesterday denied bail for a third time.

Former Police Constable Toni Sweeting was arrested back in April after she and two others – her brother, 33-year-old Delano Sweeting and Jamaican national Conrad Campbell – were found with more than three pounds of cocaine at the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA).

Sweeting was the officer on duty at the departure lounge at the time of the arrest.

It is alleged she had the drugs strapped to her body.

The drugs had an estimated value of $64,000.

The trio was eventually arraigned on taking preparatory steps to export dangerous drugs; possession of dangerous drugs with the intent to supply; conspiracy to export dangerous drugs and conspiracy to possess dangerous drugs with the intent to supply.

Sweeting’s co-accused were all granted bail; however, senior Supreme Court Justice Jon Isaacs denied her bail on the grounds that she was a flight risk.

On Wednesday, Sweeting appeared before Supreme Court Justice Bernard Turner who said he “had no option but to refuse bail.”

At that time, the accused began crying openly as her parents and brother looked on from the court’s gallery.

Making a case for his client, Murrio Ducille told the judge that while Sweeting’s trial may start in a few weeks there is the possibility that it could drag on.

As it stands, the trial is scheduled to begin on November 25 in Court #8.

However, Justice Turner assured that in the event the trial does not take place as scheduled, Sweeting can return to his court on December 4.

At that time, he said, she will be “presumptively entitled to bail.”

Sweeting initially applied for bail before Senior Supreme Court Justice Jon Isaacs. She made another attempt in the Court of Appeal.

Two of the three justices hearing the appeal determined that Justice Isaacs’ ruling be upheld considering the evidence against Sweeting was stronger than that of her co-accused.

However, one of the justices expressed concern that she was being punished prematurely because of her former job as a police constable.