$M drug bust at sea

A police report stated that $4.2M worth of compressed marijuana was seized on Monday at about 6 pm by Coast Guard officers who intercepted a boat in waters just off Soldado, Cedros.

Two Trini nationals who were on board the vessel were arrested by the coast guard officers and later handed over to members of the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau.

Seventeen (17) crocus bags containing 283 blocks of compressed marijuana were found in the boat. Yesterday, Coast Guard Commander Kirton Huggins confirmed the drug bust, telling Newsday the matter was now in the hands of the police and charges are expected to be laid soon. PC Rabindranath Maharaj is investigating.

In highlighting other major drug busts carried out this year, police sources said that on May 15, four men were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, after vehicles in which they were traveling were intercepted, during a road block in Chatham, Point Fortin.

Police seized 30 kilos of marijuana with a street value of about $50,000 hidden in two crocus bags. In August, two men were also charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking after they were allegedly held in the Gulf of Paria with 700 kilos of marijuana, in 32 crocus bags.

On December 10, $5 million worth of compressed marijuana was seized by police from a van traveling along the North Coast Road, Maracas.

A San Juan man is currently before the court to answer charges arising out of this seizure.