Drug-related charges against a man and woman have been discharged after the drugs were not sent to the UK by police for analysis promptly enough.

Karl Burton, aged 44, and Elaine Mennie, aged 43, both of Central Promenade, Douglas, had previously been charged with production (importation) of cocaine to the island which they had denied.

The case was due to be committed to the Court of General Gaol Delivery but that had been delayed twice previously due to analysis results being awaited.

A package was intercepted at the Isle of Man Post Office sorting office on April 23 and found to contain 4.1 grams of what was alleged to be cocaine, valued at £430.

On Tuesday, advocate Kate Alexander, representing Mr Burton, said that this was the second similar case in a few weeks.

Ms Alexander said that her client had been arrested on April 23 and charged in July.

She said that it had then taken three months for the drugs to be sent to the UK for testing, as they were not sent until September 30, with a 10 to 12 week wait for the results anticipated.

The advocate said that it was ’entirely unsatisfactory’ and that, if the drugs had been sent in July, the results would have been received by now.

Ms Alexander said that both defendants were from Northern Ireland originally and had not been free to come and go to see family as a result of bail conditions.

Advocate Michael Mudge, representing Ms Mennie, agreed and also asked the court to rule that there was currently no case to answer.

The court heard that one issue was that a police officer is required to travel with the drugs when being sent for testing and that Covid-19 had also slowed everything down due to their being a queue in the forensic laboratories.

Deputy High Bailiff Chris Arrowsmith this week discharged the production charges but he added that the case could still be brought back to court when drug test results are received.