Drugs in crocus bags found floating in sea

Police officers of the Eastern Division, acting on a tip off from a call to Crime Stoppers, went to the 66 mile mark on the Manzanilla Beach on Saturday night and discovered four crocus bags filled with cocaine worth $1.5 million, washed ashore.

Officers from the Manzanilla Police Station responded promptly to the information given to them by Crime Stoppers and discovered four crocus bags floating close to the shoreline at the 66 mile mark. A search of the bags led to the discovery of the cocaine wrapped in clear plastic, as well as in thick black plastic. The crocus bags contained Spanish writings suggesting that the drugs may have come from Venezuela. Yesterday, around midday, a fifth crocus bag containing cocaine was discovered close to the same area where the other four bags were found. The crocus bags with the cocaine were taken to the Sangre Grande Police Station yesterday where it was checked, weighed and photographed. Officers of the Organised Crime and Narcotics Unit were also alerted. They went to the scene of the drug find and carried out extensive investigations.

Investigators told Newsday that although no one was arrested they believe that the bags with the drugs were dumped, because of the roadblocks mounted from Friday night to yesterday by officers of the Eastern Division. They feel that the drugs were left floating at the beachfront for safe keeping until the roadblocks were completed. The area where the drugs were found is not frequented by bathers or members of the public. Investigators said that although the crocus bags were left floating on the beachfront, the drugs were protected at all times because of the plastic used and the manner in which it was wrapped. They believe that the drugs were dropped off by boat and were supposed to be transported to various destinations on Saturday night. Senior officers confirmed that several roadblocks were put in place on Friday and Saturday due to various activities in the Eastern Division. Up until late yesterday, officers of the Eastern Division combed the entire sea front close to the 66 mile mark for more crocus bags containing drugs. Snr Supt Randolph Protain, the Head of the Eastern Division, is spearheading investigations.