A volunteer with the St John Ambulance Brigade and a Port police officer have been arrested in a major police operation that netted more than $1.5 million worth of drugs.
Inspector Shervon Matthieu of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force’s (RSLPF) Gangs, Firearms and Narcotics Unit said the arrests on Wednesday stemmed from targeted operations conducted in collaboration with the Customs and Excise Department.
They came a day after officers from the Gangs, Firearms and Narcotics Unit, supported by the Special Operations Team, Special Services Unit, and the Marchand Police Station, carried out a series of targeted raids in Odlum City under the codename Operation Safe Haven, and seized an illegal gun.
“While initial searches yielded no results, a follow-up intelligence-led operation uncovered a loaded 9mm pistol with an extended magazine, concealed beneath a concrete slab near the residence of a suspect,” Inspector Matthieu said. The suspect was arrested, and the firearm was secured for forensic analysis in that operation which occurred on Tuesday.
A day later, police conducted two major drug interdictions.
In the first case, a volunteer with the St John Ambulance Brigade was detained at the George F. L. Charles Airport cargo shed after attempting to clear packages containing nearly 15 kilogrammes of suspected cannabis and cannabis-derived products.
Later that same day at Shed 6 in Port Castries, a Port police officer was arrested after trying to retrieve a barrel containing over 26 kilogrammes of cannabis resin concealed in sealed metal cans.
“The combined estimated street value of the narcotics seized in both operations stands at more than EC$1.5 million,” Matthieu said. “Both suspects remain in lawful custody as investigations continue.”
Police say these back-to-back successes underscore the RSLPF’s commitment to disrupting gun violence and dismantling drug trafficking networks in partnership with Customs and Excise.
Authorities are also encouraging enhanced screening of port workers and increased scrutiny of shipments associated with NGOs and charitable organisations, citing the sophisticated concealment methods used by traffickers.
For greed and the love of money – folk are willing to do anything regardless as to the cost and that is a crying shame – 758 is full of corruption on every level. God have mercy – karma knows all addresses and we will all reap what we sow sooner than we know for sure – some of you want to live the big high and mighty show off life regardless as to the cost – trust me it is never worth it. You all are envious, bad mind, evil and jealous and want to get rich overnight by any means necessary – find a legal job and work for an honest living. I know it can be done because my parents worked hard and sent us all to school.
Folk in 758 please work a legitimate job for what you want — if you desire to live a life of peace for yourself and your family – big house, fancy car, jewelry, gucci etc. etc. etc. will all be left behind trust me – no one can take material or money with them.
I like the fact that they clearly mention the NGO name…..But when it comes to private businesses, the RSLPF is mute! We will not forget those private firms on whose premises drugs were found like the case of the Courts. Don’t be afraid to name them…aka..speak facts from the evidence.
Publish their photos.
Drug trafficking drives the underground economy. Where do you think the money for the cars, fancy clothes and weekend parties come from? Make St.Lucia gun free!
But the government has help us a bit where we can plant our 4 trees and have enough weed to enjoy and can even share with our friends … what more can we want…