396 Kilos of cocaine seized
Authorities in St. Vincent intercepted a vessel carrying 396 kilos of cocaine off the island’s Leeward coast on Monday, April 20. The shipment, has an estimated street value of $12 million.
Following the interception, sources told St Vincent Times that police took two individuals into custody to assist with the investigation.
The suspects, identified as a Grenadian and a Venezuelan national, are currently being questioned as authorities work to uncover the scale of the trafficking network involved.
Minister of National Security St. Clair Leacock officially confirmed the details of the bust during a session of parliament on Tuesday evening. The Minister’s statement corroborated earlier reports by St Vincent Times regarding the scale of the seizure.
Leacock revealed that he had been briefed on the operation early Tuesday morning and immediately moved to bolster the nation’s defensive posture.
Citing concerns that the implications of such a large-scale seizure could present challenges “bigger than what we can take care of” through local resources alone, the Minister instructed the Commissioner of Police to notify the Regional Security System (RSS). The RSS has been placed on alert and standby to support local law enforcement if necessary.
Minister Leacock emphasized that the decision to involve regional partners was a strategic move to ensure citizen safety was “enhanced and secured at all times,” rather than an indictment of local police capabilities.
The Minister said on Tuesday evening that the seizure underscores the urgent need to modernize what he described as a “ramshackle security apparatus”. According to Leacock, new legislation is vital to providing law enforcement with the technological and legal tools required to combat evolving criminal threats.
Reaffirming the government’s stance on crime, the Minister pledged to refine any necessary regulations to protect the nation, stating his current philosophy is to “speak a little less and do a little bit more” to demonstrate a firm commitment to national security.
