The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) has launched a bold and strategic crackdown on criminal activity across the island, following a ten-day surge of targeted operations led by the Gangs, Narcotics, and Firearms Unit (GNFU). These coordinated efforts, supported by the Central Intelligence Unit (CIU), have resulted in multiple arrests, the seizure of illegal drugs and firearms, and the disruption of organized criminal networks.
Operation Cargo Watch Uncovers Drug Trafficking Plot
On Friday, June 27, 2025, intelligence gathered by the GNFU and CIU led to the execution of Operation Cargo Watch, a focused initiative targeting the illegal importation of controlled drugs via air cargo from Toronto, Canada.
Two individuals were arrested during the operation: Shaquille M. Walker of Castries and Andrina Epiphane, an Executive Officer with the Customs and Excise Department in Vieux Fort. Their suspicious behavior prompted officers to search two vehicles, which revealed:
- 4 kilograms of compressed cannabis hidden in a Froot Loops cereal box
- 2 kilograms of cannabis resin concealed inside an air bed box
Both suspects were charged with multiple drug offenses, including possession, possession with intent to supply, and importation of cannabis and cannabis resin. They were each granted bail in the sum of EC $50,000.
Multi-Kilogram Cocaine Bust in Dennery and Ti Tous Beach
On July 3, 2025, the GNFU North and South teams executed a joint anti-drug operation in Dennery Village and Ti Tous Beach. After hours of surveillance, officers seized:
- 45 bricks of suspected cocaine in two large sacks
- The total weight: approximately 50 kilograms
- Estimated street value: EC $1.3 million
The drugs were carefully weighed, sealed, and submitted to the forensic lab for testing. A follow-up vehicle checkpoint on July 4 led to the arrest of Quintin Taylor (alias “Quincy”), who was found with 105 grams of cannabis resin. He faces charges for possession and possession with intent to supply.
Firearms Charges for Dual Citizen Chester Garner Ernest
In a separate development, Chester Garner Ernest, a dual citizen of Saint Lucia and the United States, was formally charged on July 4, 2025, with three counts of firearm importation under the Firearms (Amendment) Act.
The charges stem from a December 12, 2024, raid at his Careille residence, where authorities uncovered:
- A Cobra .380 pistol concealed in a sneaker
- 264 rounds of ammunition hidden in a false air-conditioning vent
- A firearm cleaning kit and cannabis
Further investigation connected Ernest to a major 2022 seizure at Shed 6, Port Castries, involving three AR-15 rifles, high-capacity magazines, tactical gear, and firearm components. The ongoing case includes collaboration with U.S. authorities, particularly the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Ernest is due in court on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
Suspected AR-15 Seized in Bois Patat Raid
On the morning of Monday, July 7, officers raided a premises in Odlum City, Bois Patat, following intelligence about an illegal firearm transaction. The search revealed:
- One suspected AR-15 rifle with a tampered serial number
- Two high-capacity magazines
- Multiple rounds of ammunition
The items were handed over to forensic officers. While no arrests have been made, investigations continue.