British Customs tell Baptiste sorry

LONDON: Former West Indies paceman Eldine Baptiste has received an apology from Britain’s Customs and Excise service after he was held in custody for three days on suspicion of drug smuggling.

Baptiste, 43, was stopped by customs officers at Gatwick Airport on Sunday on his way to South Africa. In a statement released yesterday, the Customs and Excise service said Baptiste had been cleared and a full investigation was being held. “Tests on golf balls that were in Mr Baptiste’s possession gave a positive reading for a controlled substance more than once,” the statement said. “However, in-depth forensic tests later confirmed that no controlled substance was present.” Baptiste, a member of the West Indies side which won all five Tests in England in 1984, said: “The way I have been treated is an absolute disgrace.”