Customs guards threatened

According to sources, following the seizure of the US$2 million from a container at the Pt Lisas Port, earlier this month, Customs officers, acting on information, swooped down on a boat at Queen’s Wharf and found the drugs and foreign currency on the lower deck of the vessel.

Sources said based on investigations the cocaine was bound for Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.

The captain of the vessel when interviewed by Customs officers said he did not know that the bags containing the cocaine were in his boat.

After several hours of questioning, he was released.

The seized cocaine was taken to the Customs and Excise Buidling at Ajax Street, in Port-of-Spain, and six heavily armed soldiers have been mandated to guard the drugs at that location.

Sources told Newsday that following the seizure of the cocaine, Customs officers who were involved in the raid, received death threats resulting in a decision being taken to issue them with personal firearms.

According to well-placed sources, the US$2 million which was seized in at the Pt Lisas Port was to be paid to a local businessman for the 100 kilos of cocaine which is believed to have come from Venezuela.

Sources also said the US$2 million which was seized was supposed to be paid to a local businessman for the 100 kilos of cocaine which is believed to have come from Venezuela.

Customs and Excise officers have since determined that the US$2 million also came from someone in Tortola and officers believe that there is a thriving cocaine trade between Tortola, Trinidad and Venezuela.

Newsday also understands that a official from the Tortola Customs and Immigration Department has been laising with officers attached to the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) office at the American Embassy at Marli Street, Port-of-Spain.

Sources in the investigation of the seizure of both the cocaine and foreign currency at the two ports was not reported to the local Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau (OCNUFB) based on advice.

Up until yesterday the cocaine remained in the hands of Customs and Excise division.

Sources said that with the involvement of DEA they may be able to make a major breakthrough into the drug operation between the three countries.