October 19, 2022

St. Kitts and Nevis authorities make multi-million drug bust on Cargo Vessel registered to Trinidad

By Shirvan Williams

Photo:Global Illicit Flows Programme


Investigations are continuing into the seizure of cocaine at the Deep Water Harbour Port in Bird Rock, Basseterre which had an estimated street value of approximately $26,400,000 United States dollars (USD) or $71,280,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars (ECD). An estimated USD$57,777 or ECD$156,000 in cannabis was also seized.

According to reports from the St. Kitts and Nevis Observer, the bust was made on October 04, 2022, at about 8 a.m.

The bust was carried out by members of the St. Kitts and Nevis Customs Enforcement Division, the Anti-Narcotics Unit of The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force Coast Guard Operational Division.

The agencies conducted a joint operation which involved a search of the cargo vessel MV Elizabeth C. The vessel is registered in Trinidad and Tobago with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) number 8894574. The last port of departure prior to arriving at the Port in Basseterre was St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

During the search, officers discovered several bales of a white substance they believed to be cocaine. They also discovered a quantity of compressed vegetable material in transparent vacuum-sealed bags which they suspected to be Cannabis sativa. The contents were concealed within the walls of the cabin of the vessel.

The initial count of the bales revealed that thirty-two (32) were found. Each bale consisted of twenty-five (25) kilo blocks which amount to a total of 800 kilograms (kg) of suspected cocaine. There were also sixteen (16) transparent vacuumed plastic bags with a total weight of 5.830kgs/12.852 pounds of suspected cannabis.

The vessel had a crew of five (5) adult males – three (3) are nationals of Trinidad and Tobago and two (2) are nationals of Grenada and Carriacou. The men and the suspected narcotics were taken into Police custody.

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