Jubilation swept a Miami court yesterday when drug allegations against Bermudian soccer player Meshach Wade were dropped.

But the joy could be short-lived because of an apparent legal blunder by the prosecution, The Royal Gazette can today reveal.

Now the US State Attorney's Office seems likely to renew the charges against Wade.

"All I can say is that there has been a procedural miscommunication,'' said Mr. David Weinstein, chief of narcotics of the Dade County Attorney's Office.

"There appears to have been a miscommunication between the people preparing the case and the people filing the case.

"There did not appear to be a valid reason for dropping the charges.

"I will have to talk to the people processing the charges to have them refiled.'' Lawyer Mr. H.T. Smith, who is representing all seven of Bermuda's Under-23 players arrested at Miami International Airport on December 9, said he was unaware of any blunder by the prosecution.

He believed Wade was a "free man.'' Wade appeared yesterday with five other players at the criminal division of the circuit court of Dade County.

Herbert Dillas, Shawn Riley and Donnie Charles were ordered to stand trial on February 6, while Kevin Jennings and Keishon Smith must return before Judge Michael Genden on February 7, said Mr. Smith.

The seventh player, 17-year-old Tokia Russell, was told to return to Miami's Family and Juvenile Justice Centre on January 19.

Mr. Smith, speaking when the question mark over Wade's acquittal had not come to light, described yesterday as a "good day'' for his clients, who deny charges of importing and possessing cannabis.

"It is also a very good day for Bermuda.'' Mr. Smith said the prosecution has asked for more time before deciding where to pursue its case against Russell. "I think that is a very positive sign. It shows the US State Attorney has enough concern about the case that they need more time.'' Earlier Mr. Smith had labelled the players "champions'' who had brought honour to their Country when Bermuda qualified for the Pan-Am Games finals in Argentina next March.

He urged the Island and the Bermuda Football Association to rally around them.

Mr. Smith was unable to say when his clients would be returning to Bermuda.

Yesterday's arraignment hearings at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building -- which incorporates the Dade County criminal courtrooms -- were marked by legal chaos bordering on farce.

The six adult players appeared before five different judges, forcing Mr.

Smith, his forehead beaming with sweat, to do a crazy whirlwind tour of the courts.

"How can I be everywhere at the same time?'' he asked a reporter trying to keep track of his movements.

Wade was released by Judge Celeste H. Muir without Mr. Smith even being there.

He was mobbed by relatives as he left the court with a look of stunned disbelief on his face.

The 21-year-old then joined his teammates Jennings and Smith who were in a separate courtroom presided over by Judge Genden.

The tension was momentarily broken when a court official casually removed one of her shoes and began scraping some gum off the heel.

Mr. Smith told the judge the case involved seven members of Bermuda's soccer team, one a juvenile.

"Six of the cases have been before five different judges,'' said Mr. Smith, president of the National Bar Association of America.

He added: "Jennings and Smith both maintain their innocence.'' Jennings and Smith, accompanied by relatives, left the courtroom after their trial date was fixed.

They joined their teammates in the corridor outside, all of them looking 2 Dropped charges likely to be refiled From Page 1 Led by Mr. Smith they emerged into brilliant sunshine from the Gerstein building -- dedicated to the memory of the Dade County State Attorney between 1957 and 1978 -- and posed for a freelance cameraman, watched by curious passers-by and street vendors.

Declared Mr. Smith: "These young men are very pleased that they were able to be released from custody to spend the holiday with their families. They could not have had a better Christmas present.

"Today we began the legal process of removing the cloud over the heads of these champions.

"All seven of these young men are very grateful for the opportunity to be free at Christmas-time to spend Christmas with their loved ones.

"We are very relieved we have finally made it to court where we can fight these charges. The seven men have expressed in court their innocence. The charges against one have been dropped. Hopefully the charges against the others will be removed. We are hopeful that just as they have brought honour to their Country that the BFA and their countrymen in Bermuda will stand with them as they fight these charges in court.'' Asked whether the players would be back in Bermuda for New Year's Day, he replied: "They will definitely not be leaving today. It's a matter we will have to discuss.'' Later, Russell turned up in the afternoon at the Family and Juvenile Justice Centre, accompanied by friends, relatives and some of his teammates. Mr. Smith explained to them the case had been reset for January 19.

Reflecting on his day, Mr. Smith told The Royal Gazette : "I have never done so much exercise in all my life.'' Of the possible prosecution blunder with Wade's case, Mr. Smith said: "There were different prosecutors for the hearings.

"Quite honestly you had better ask the prosecution why the charges were dropped.'' Mr. Smith said he hoped the players who have to stand trial will do so before a single judge.

"They should be tried together, and remain together.

"They were all arrested together, bonded together and should be tried together.'' Mr. Weinstein said the players had their cases treated separately because they were not charged with a conspiracy. He did not imagine, however, the prosecution objecting to the cases being lumped together.

BEFORE THE COURTS -- Donnie Charles and Herbert Dillas listen to their attorney Mr. H.T. Smith before their hearing in Miami, Florida, yesterday. -- Reuter