DESPITE a request by defence attorneys and Resident Magistrate Martin Gayle, the United States Government has refused to release video tapes deemed crucial to the extradition hearing of Montego Bay-based cambio operator Adrian Armstrong.

The United States Government, in its application for Armstrong’s extradition to face charges of money laundering and conspiracy charges, said it had in its possession video tapes, which had captured Armstrong making drug deals with a Colombian drug enforcement agent.

Two weeks ago, Resident Magistrate Gayle instructed the Director of Public Prosecution to get the tapes so they could be brought into evidence. In addition, defence attorneys Jackie Samuels-Brown and Jade Hollis, have constantly appealed to R M Gayle to acquire the tapes but their hopes were dampened during an extradition hearing at the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court, yesterday.

“The requesting state has reiterated their position that no tapes will be forthcoming,” government prosecutor Herbert McKenzie told the court.

Samuels-Brown could not hide her disappointment. “This is the most disappointing day in the history of extradition matters in Jamaica,” she said.

Armstrong has been locked up at the New Horizon Remand Centre in Kingston since October when he was collared by narcotics agents armed with provisional warrants of arrest. He was twice granted bail by the court but was re-arrested by the police on both occasions.

Armstrong was also denied bail yesterday, despite an application by Samuels-Brown.

He will return to court on June 30.