Yellowknife (Mar 24/06) - A June preliminary hearing has been set for several individuals charged in the Project Gunship drug raid in Yellowknife last October.

On Wednesday, Territorial Court Judge Bernadette Schmaltz said the three-week hearing would begin June 26.

Five of the suspects will take part in the hearing:

Sandra Gellenbeck faces one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine and one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking;

Ken Wong is to appear in court again on June 26 for the preliminary inquiry.

Hoa Hien Ngo, who has requested a Cantonese or Vietnamese interpreter, has pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine;

Michael Fraser is charged with one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine; and,

Chandra Mudaliar is also charged with one count of conspiracy to traffic cocaine.

Other suspects were also in court Wednesday.

Colin Cleveland has been charged with one count of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and one joint charge of unlawful storage of a shotgun. He will reappear on April 11 to set dates for the trial.

Larry Mak, who faces a joint charge with Cleveland of improperly storing a firearm, also faces one charge of trafficking cocaine, possession for the purpose of trafficking and conspiracy to traffic cocaine.

Mak also faces numerous weapons-related charges, including possession of a restricted firearm with readily available ammunition; improperly storing a firearm without reasonable precautions; defacing the serial number on a firearm; possession of a stolen gun and possession of a firearm without a licence. He will also return to court April 11.

Tom Desjarlais, charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime will also return to court April 11.

Leonard Haynes, who previously entered a not guilty plea to one count of trafficking cocaine, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and conspiracy to traffic cocaine, will reappear April 25 and had a voir dire set for Aug. 8.

Phillip Mullins also will reappear in court April 25 to speak to his charges. He had previously entered a not guilty plea to trafficking cocaine; possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking; conspiracy to traffic cocaine; trafficking marijuana and three counts of uttering threats.