Five charges have been laid against the five nationals of St. Vincent & the Grenadines aging in range from 20 to 40 years. They were arrested in connection with a large seizure of drugs on Friday morning, which involved the visiting British naval ship, HMS Manchester.
The five were charged jointly on Saturday in the Magistrate’s Court for drug trafficking, possession of cannabis sativa with intent to supply, and possession of cannabis sativa. Each were separately charged with conspiracy to engage in drug trafficking and conspiracy to import a controlled drug.
According to Deputy Commissioner Paul Morris in the Royal Montserrat Police Force, the correct street value for the drugs seized on Friday during a joint operation with the HMS Manchester was 2.2 million Eastern Caribbean dollars. A previous statement from the HMS Manchester had said the drugs were valued in the UK at 1.5 million pounds which was more than six million EC dollars. However the value placed by the HMS Manchester officials said that was based on the street value in UK.
Dep. Com. Morris said the force is continuing to investigate the case and it was too early to say whether the drugs were meant for the island or if Montserrat was a merely a transshipment point. A total of 12-25Kg bales of cannabis (about 350 kg) were picked up from a local beach in the exclusion zone, not far from where the men and boat were apprehended.
Bail hearing for the suspects were scheduled this week before the Magistrate for this week but that has been postponed.
