BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE two St. Lucians, who were caught last Saturday (Sept. 1) in St. Kitts and Nevis’ territorial waters aboard a yacht carrying a large quantity of cocaine, were on Monday (Sept. 3) charged with three drugs-related offences.
According to a release from the Police Public Relations Office, 56-year-old Vincent Clerice and Nixon Alexander (42), both of Marigot, St. Lucia, were formally charged for possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to supply to another and importation of cocaine into the Federation.
At about noon on Saturday, last, during a joint Maritime Anti-Narcotics Operation between the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force’s Coast Guard and the Dutch Navy Frigate HR. MS. TROMP (F-803), a white 15.36-metre United Kingdom-registered yacht bearing the name SINESTRA PROVE was sailing in the Old Road area.
Members aboard the Dutch vessel had observed the crew of the SINESTRA PROVE jettisoning some bags into the Caribbean Sea, and on closing with the yacht they recovered six bags from the water.
On examination of the bags, it was discovered that they each contained 20 three-inch thick 12-inch long packages of a white substance, which was tested and proved to be cocaine amounting to 120 kilos.
Documents aboard the yacht indicated that Clerice was both captain and owner while Alexander was the lone crew member. Both men and the illegal drugs were handed over to the police after the yacht was escorted to the Coast Guard Base at Bird Rock.
