BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE four men, who were nabbed in Basseterre on Saturday (Nov. 14) with one kilo of cocaine and a large quantity of marijuana, were today (Nov. 16) charged with the offences.
A police communiqué this afternoon indicated that Rafael Chapman and Merlin Murrain Matos, both nationals of the Dominican Republic but who are residing on Nevis, were each charged with possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to supply and importation of cocaine.
The others charged are Bevin Taylor and Dennial Rouse, both of Salt Pond Alley in Irish Town.
Taylor was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to supply , importation of cocaine, possession of cannabis and possession of cannabis with intent to supply, while Rouse was charged with possession of cannabis and possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
At approximately 3:00 p.m. on the day in question, members of the Special Services Unit and the Anti-Narcotics Unit were on a routine patrol along the Bay Road in Irish Tow, when they observed some suspicious activities in the vicinity of the Gardens Housing Project.
Monitoring the activities for some time, the officers observed a blue and white boat bearing the name Pearla Negra (Black Pearl) was very close to the shoreline.
Also while monitoring the activities, a man, alleged to be Taylor, had exited a car that was parked in the immediate vicinity and an orange and white bucked was thrown to him by either Chapman or Matos who were aboard the vessel.
Upon receipt of the bucket, the man ran towards the Garden’s Playfield with the officers in hot pursuit.
He was eventually caught and a search of the bucket revealed the find of one kilo of cocaine with a street value of EC$89,100.
Meanwhile, the boat with Chapman and Matos was heading out to sea but was intercepted by a vessel from the St. Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard.
The two of them, who disclosed their names to the officers and stated that they are nationals of the Dominican Republic but are residing on Nevis, were taken into custody to assisting the police with their investigations.
Consequently, a search by warrant was executed on Taylor’s Salt Pond Alley residence, where 50.7 pounds of marijuana with a street value of EC$380,250 were found.
Taylor and another individual Rouse, who was present at the residence during the search, was taken into police custody along with Taylor.
Information reaching SKNVibes stated that the four men are still in police custody awaiting their court appearance.
