Authorities intercept cannabis shipments at airport and seaport in major St Lucia drug bust
CASTRIES, St Lucia — A St Lucia drug bust valued at more than EC$1.5 million has resulted in the arrest of a volunteer with the St John Ambulance Brigade and a serving Port police officer. The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force confirmed that both individuals were detained in separate narcotics interdictions conducted on Wednesday, following a wider security crackdown.
According to Inspector Shervon Matthieu of the Gangs, Firearms and Narcotics Unit, the back-to-back operations were carried out in partnership with the Customs and Excise Department. They followed a firearms seizure on Tuesday during a raid in Odlum City.
That earlier mission, codenamed Operation Safe Haven, was supported by the Special Operations Team, the Special Services Unit, and officers from the Marchand Police Station. While initial searches in the area yielded no evidence, a subsequent intelligence-led sweep uncovered a loaded 9mm pistol with an extended magazine hidden beneath a concrete slab near a suspect’s residence. One individual was arrested, and the firearm was secured for forensic analysis.
The seizure came just days after a similar police operation in Castries netted multiple illegal firearms in a targeted raid. Read more about that operation here.
On Wednesday, police shifted focus to potential trafficking through the island’s ports. The first interdiction occurred at the George F. L. Charles Airport, where a St John Ambulance Brigade volunteer was detained while attempting to clear packages containing nearly 15 kilograms of suspected cannabis and cannabis-derived products at the cargo shed.
Later that same day, officers moved to Shed 6 at Port Castries, where a Port police officer was arrested after trying to retrieve a barrel containing over 26 kilograms of cannabis resin. Authorities say the resin was tightly packed inside sealed metal cans, indicating sophisticated concealment.
Inspector Matthieu stated the combined street value of the drugs seized in both operations exceeds EC$1.5 million. “Both suspects remain in lawful custody as investigations continue,” he said.
Officials praised the joint efforts between the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) and Customs and Excise Department, emphasizing the importance of intelligence-driven policing in disrupting narcotics networks. The operations, they said, are part of a broader effort to combat illegal drug trafficking and the associated flow of firearms into communities.
In response to the findings, authorities are recommending enhanced screening protocols for port workers and greater scrutiny of cargo shipments associated with charitable organizations. Investigators believe traffickers are increasingly exploiting institutional trust and concealment tactics to bypass security checks.
“These recent arrests should send a clear message that the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force is intensifying its efforts to break up drug trafficking rings and stem the tide of illegal weapons on our streets,” said Matthieu.
The RSLPF has not ruled out additional arrests or charges as investigations unfold. Both suspects are expected to face formal charges following legal review.
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