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Language barriers continue to hamper the prosecution of an alleged Mexican drug mule arrested earlier this year outside Osoyoos.

Defence counsel for Armando Esparza-Ochoa appeared in Penticton court Wednesday to ask for an adjournment of a hearing scheduled later this month when they were planning to ask for the disclosure of evidence be provided in Spanish.

“There is nothing in the [criminal] code that can provide a judge with the authority to make the order that Crown provide disclosure in Spanish,” admitted defence lawyer Michael Patterson.

His client is accused of smuggling several kilograms of methamphetamine across the border near Osoyoos on Sept. 1, and is facing three charges.

An arraignment hearing for Esparza-Ochoa was also delayed, until Dec. 1, to allow Patterson time to find a service to translate to evidence against the alleged mule into Spanish.

During a previous court appearance in September, Esparza-Ochoa, through a translator voiced a desire to be sentenced. The federal prosecutor at the time declined to accept any sort of plea until legal-aid was sorted out and he had spoken with a lawyer, citing the "significant" jail term he is facing.