The mother of arrested Under-23 soccer player Shawn Riley is preparing to fly to Miami to see her son.

Mrs. Paula Riley told The Royal Gazette yesterday she was determined to be with her son over Christmas.

"I am just waiting to find out the best time to fly over.'' Mrs. Riley said she had been in daily contact with her son since he was arrested with six other players last Friday.

She was expecting a telephone call from the 20-year-old last night.

After bearing up well initially to his ordeal, her son's spirits took a nose dive, she revealed.

And as to her own feelings, she admitted: "It's been really terrible.'' Mrs. Riley said she would be going to Miami by herself, as her husband could not get the time off.

She hoped to fly off before the end of the week.

Yesterday the anxious parents of the players received some welcome good news in their fight to be reunited with their sons before Christmas.

Bail was finally posted for Shawn Riley and five other players -- Donnie Charles, Keishon Smith, Kevin Jennings, Herbert Dillas, and Meshach Wade.

Last Saturday judge Harvey Baxter set bail at $2,500 each in a hearing at Dade County Court.

Shadow Health Minister Mr. Nelson Bascome, a Bermuda Football Association executive committee member, flew to Florida on Monday with the bail cash.

The money was posted at 2.30 p.m. yesterday, the players' lawyer Mr. H.T.

Smith revealed.

Now the players have to win permission from an Immigration judge to fly back to Bermuda.

"We are trying to get the Immigration people to pick them up,'' said Mr.

Smith.

Mr. Smith said Immigration would be notified this morning, and urged to move ahead as speedily as possible.

It was hoped a date could be set for a hearing before an Immigration judge. As for the seventh player, Tokia Russell, moves to get him released were "half a day ahead'' of those for his team-mates, said Mr. Smith.

Seventeen-year-old Russell -- detained separately from the others -- appeared before judge Lederman at the Juvenile Justice Centre on Monday afternoon.

Judge Lederman directed Russell be released from juvenile custody and placed in the hands of Immigration officials.

The Under-23 players were charged with importing and possessing marijuana after US Customs officials arrested them at Miami International Airport on Friday night.

"So far every day has brought them nearer release,'' said Mr. Smith.

In other developments in the Miami drugs bust, it was revealed yesterday: The six adult players had been moved to a larger and more comfortable detention centre.

US Customs officials found marijuana in three leather pouches in a suitcase of one of the players.

US lawyer gets players moved to new Miami jail Rumours that US Customs arrested the players following a tip-off were firmly squashed.

Bermuda Police are investigating whether the players had broken any offences under Bermuda law.

CONCACAF president Mr. Jack Warner received a letter from the Bermuda Football Association on the drug allegations. He will now discuss it with FIFA.

Mr. Smith said the move to the new detention centre was partly aimed at wrong-footing Bermudian Policemen who had "interrogated'' his clients without his permission.

He was particularly scathing about Chief Insp. Winston Esdaille, believed to be heading the team in Miami probing the drugs bust.

The officers were quizzing his clients about matters clearly unrelated to any crimes in Bermuda, he said.

Such behaviour proved disruptive and was a psychological setback for the players.

"I am cautiously optimistic they will be more professional in their conduct in the future.'' Mr. Smith said.

He added his clients had made it clear they did not want to speak to the Bermudian officers.

Mr. Smith went on to appeal to Bermuda Government to show support for the players.

"I hope the Bermuda Government will step forward publicly to say it supports these young men and wants them released, even if it's just to be in the spirit of Christmas.'' Yesterday Bermuda's Acting Police Commissioner Mr. Alex Forbes responded to Mr. Smith's attack.

He made it clear the Police team in Miami had the permission, support and complete cooperation of the US Customs, Dade County Police and Drug Enforcement Administration.

"The purpose of their investigation is to collect evidence of any offences which may have been committed under Bermuda law.'' Police spokeswoman Insp. Roseanda Jones said it was customary for Bermuda to work with overseas forces.

She declined to comment on suggestions Police were probing local involvement in the Miami bust.

"We don't know how this investigation is going to go. If the investigation involves a local inquiry we will follow up the local inquiry.'' Insp. Jones said it seemed clear drugs were destined for Bermuda.

"We would be duty bound to investigate.'' She added Police would also be seeking to determine whether there had been any breach of Bermuda law.

The Royal Gazette understands possible offences involving the importation of drugs to Bermuda are being examined.

Yesterday A US Customs spokesman stamped on rumours the players were arrested after a tip-off.

He admitted substantial rewards -- running into hundreds of thousands of dollars -- could be offered for information leading to drug busts.

But Customs did not act on advance information in the Miami bust, he stressed.

"Officers carried out a routine check,'' he said.

BEHIND BARS IN MIAMI -- Shawn Riley will receive a welcome visit by his mother, Mrs. Paula Riley, this week.