vast drug smuggling ring, were released on bail yesterday.

Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr. Justice Ward released Dillas on $65,000 bail in his own recognizance and three sureties -- one of $60,000 and two of $30,000.

He allowed Ebbin to go free on $15,000 bail and a like surety.

The two men were bailed to appear in court for their September 28 retrial on charges that they imported more than 20 pounds of cocaine into the Island.

The bail application, made by lawyer Mr. Delroy Duncan, was heard in chambers yesterday morning. Crown Counsel was Mr. Mark Pettingill.

Yesterday, Mr. Duncan said the men were not immediately released from custody but that they might be today.

A Supreme Court jury found the men, along with Colin Smith and lead singer of the Bermuda Strollers Ted Ming, guilty of the charge in May 1990.

The four were freed from 20-year prison sentences last March by the Court of Appeal.

The tribunal overturned the convictions after concluding that the late Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr. Justice (Martyn) Ward had misdirected the jury on evidence that in itself was insufficient to convict them on drug smuggling charges.

The Appeal Court ruled that "the weakness of the case against Ming and Smith is such that it would be wrong to order them to be retried'' and ordered their release. It ruled that Ebbin and Dillas remain in custody pending a decision by the Crown on whether or not to retry them.