Police intensify narcotics crackdown after woman arrested in Port Castries
Castries, St Lucia — A woman arrested in Port Castries is now at the center of a widening police operation as the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) intensifies its fight against narcotics trafficking and corruption. The high-profile Port Castries drug raid, led by the Gangs, Narcotics and Firearms Unit (GNFU), marks another major step in efforts to disrupt criminal networks using St Lucia’s main port for illegal smuggling.
According to the RSLPF, GNFU officers executed a search operation at Port Castries on October 29, where a consignment of goods was found to contain illegal drugs. Video footage of the raid has since gone viral on social media, showing officers combing through barrels and containers as part of an ongoing investigation.
Police confirmed that one female suspect, employed at a local call center, was taken into custody in connection with the discovery. She remains detained as investigators pursue further leads.
The arrest follows several recent interdictions by the GNFU, including a multimillion-dollar seizure valued at more than EC$1.3 million and the arrests of employees from the Saint Lucia Air and Seaports Authority (SLASPA) and the Customs and Excise Department. In a related operation, SLASPA employees were charged earlier this month in a major Port Castries drug bust, further exposing the depth of alleged corruption within the island’s port network. Both agencies, which oversee port and customs operations, have faced scrutiny amid allegations of collusion with criminal elements exploiting legitimate trade routes for smuggling.
Law enforcement officials say the series of raids form part of a broader national strategy to reinforce border integrity and combat the infiltration of corruption in public institutions. Over the past month, surveillance and intelligence coordination have increased between the GNFU, Customs, and Coast Guard divisions to intercept drug and weapon shipments entering St Lucia.
Senior officers have reaffirmed their zero-tolerance policy toward narcotics trafficking and corruption, stressing that all individuals, including public servants, will face prosecution if implicated.
The RSLPF said investigations into the Port Castries operation are continuing, and additional arrests are expected as the probe expands.
Follow Unitedpac St Lucia News for verified updates on the Port Castries investigation and other major law enforcement developments across St Lucia.
