BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN what was described as one of the largest drugs bust in the history of St. Kitts and Nevis, members of the Federation’s Security Forces had seized 130 kilos of cocaine aboard a yacht that ran aground in Sandy Point on Sunday (Nov. 3).
The operation was conducted by members of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, Customs and Excise Department, St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force and the Coast Guard.
According to a police communiqué, the operation was launched following a report by members of the public who said that a yacht had ran aground at Pump Bay in Sandy Point.
The yacht was taken to the Coast Guard Base in Bird Rock, where it was searched by members of the Security Forces on the following day and just over 120 packages of cocaine were discovered.
The street value of the cocaine is estimated at over EC$12M.
The communiqué stated that Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) with responsibility for Operations, Adolph Adams, described the seizure as one of the largest ever in the history of the Federation.
He commended the members of the operation and noted that the Security Forces have to be relentless in the protection of the Federation’s borders.
“I would like to commend our officers in the Anti-Narcotics Unit, the Special Services Unit, Customs, and the Defence Force and Coast Guard for their courageous effort in effecting this operation. In recent times, we’ve had a number of reports of vessels entering the waters of the Federation and conducting illegal transactions. We have to be relentless and aggressive in protecting our borders as best as we can.”
Adams was high in praise for residents of Sandy Point.
“We have to thank the members of the Sandy Point community for being forthcoming with the information that led to the seizure, which I am told is one of the largest cocaine busts in the Federation.”
The ACP informed that a suspect is at large and is being sought by the police as investigations into the matter are ongoing.
He is asking anyone who might have any useful information in relation to this matter to call anonymously.
Persons can also contact the Sandy Point Police Station at 465-6261, the nearest police station or call the Crime Hotline at 707.
