According to police, a package declared as “sea-moss” at the General Post Office in Castries turned out to contain more than three kilograms of cocaine. A Vieux Fort man has been arrested and charged in relation to the discovery.
The package was intercepted on August 15 during a joint inspection of outgoing mail. The exercise was carried out by the Customs and Excise Department, supported by the Gangs, Narcotics, and Firearms (GNF) Unit and the K9 Unit. Officials said the inspections were part of increased monitoring of the postal system, which has been used in several recent drug trafficking attempts.
Officers examining the cardboard box found four bricks of a white substance concealed inside. A field test confirmed it was cocaine, weighing 3.44 kilograms with an estimated street value of $86,000. The drugs were photographed, packaged, and sealed in the presence of investigators.
Intelligence gathered by the GNF South Branch identified the sender as Neil Alexander of Pierrot, Vieux Fort. On September 3, officers executed a search warrant at his residence. He was arrested, cautioned, and informed of the suspected offences.
The following day, Alexander was formally charged with possession of cocaine and attempting to export cocaine under the Drug (Prevention of Misuse) Act. He was also charged with attempting to export prohibited goods and fraudulent evasion under the Customs (Control and Management) Act.
On September 5, Alexander appeared in court and was granted bail of $27,900. Conditions attached to his bail include surrendering all travel documents, restrictions on leaving Saint Lucia, and mandatory reporting to authorities.
Police Commissioner Verne Garde commended the agencies involved, saying their collaboration had led to several successful interdictions in recent months. He described the sea-moss package seizure as “another disruption of attempts to smuggle drugs out of the country.”
Investigations remain ongoing as authorities continue to pursue leads into the wider network behind the operation.
St. Lucians are always first to blame everyone else but their own people. Some of your own citizens are very much involved in exporting drugs.