The Department of Public Prosecutions yesterday said that extradition proceedings against alleged drug smuggler Andrew Hall have been discontinued.

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Kulandra Ratneser told that ?extradition proceedings have been withdrawn at this time?, adding that he ?could not disclose the reason for this at this time?.

In January, Hall, who had spent nearly three years in jail awaiting trial on drugs charges, was released and allowed to return home after then?Assistant Justice Archibald Warner ruled it was unconstitutional that Hall should spend so much time in custody without trial.

The 39-year-old Jamaican national had been arrested in March 2001 on importation charges but had still not stood trial on the allegations when he was finally released.

The Court of Appeal later reversed Assistant Justice Warner?s ruling and the DPP continued with its indictment against Hall.

They sought to extradite Hall from Jamaica, where he fled on a private jet days after he was released from prison.

On April 17 it was reported that Hall was in custody in Jamaica awaiting extradition back to Bermuda.

However, it was reported in the Court of Appeal yesterday that Hall had been released from Jamaican Police as the extradition proceedings against him had been dropped.