Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (May 17/02) - One of the suspects in the North's latest drug bust has been released from custody and prosecutors have stayed the charges against her.

Mary Anne Laboucane, 38, was released Wednesday morning. She was arrested and detained by the RCMP Monday and charged with two counts of trafficking cocaine.

Laboucane and two other suspects appeared in justice of the peace court Tuesday.

Laboucane's bail hearing was scheduled for Wednesday at 1:30, but she did not appear in court.

Crown Prosecutor Scott Niblock confirmed that the charges against Laboucane were stayed and she had been released, but said he could not say why.

Five arrest warrants for Project Getaway suspects remain in effect. Police are still looking for Yellowknife residents Stanley Paul Pestano, 21, Pierre Eskalon, 18, Peter Mario Pagonis, 38, Norman Alexander Hache, 21, and Frederick Douglas McDonald, 53.

Sgt. Phil Johnson of the RCMP "G" Division says officers are still looking for the five suspects.

"We know what they look like and we're looking for them," he said.

Johnson said there are no leads as to the whereabouts of the individuals but asks anyone with information to contact the RCMP.

Police are also seeking to lay charges against a sixth individual, however Johnson said they "don't know his name."

A total of 40 charges were laid against 18 individuals Monday as a result of a two-month investigation.

The charges are for trafficking cocaine, marijuana and the narcotic prescription painkiller Percodan.