NATIONALS of Saint Lucia and Martinique are being held by French authorities as a result of an investigation that led to the seizure of drugs and weapons.
The announcement of the arrests was made Tuesday night by the French online media outlet Martinique 1 Ere.
Nine individuals were said to have been arrested so far there has been no word from the local authorities regarding that matter.
The successful anti-drug probe was done in cooperation with law enforcement authorities in Saint Lucia and Venezuela, it was reported.
Martinique 1 ere reported that the arrest of the nine suspects came after 10 months of investigation.
The online media outlet said that a large network that engaged in trafficking drugs and arms from Venezuela was dismantled by the Caribbean branch of the Central Office for the Suppression of Illegal Traffic in Narcotics (OCRTIS), in cooperation with Saint Lucia and Venezuela, after a final operation last week in St. Joseph.
The publication quoted OCRTIS Head, Jean Damien Moustier, as saying that the operation resulted in an ‘exceptional’ seizure in the history of Martinique.
In addition to the 11,000 euros in cash, 130 kilos of cocaine and seized vehicles, the investigators have confiscated an ‘impressive’ amount of firearms, according to reports.
The weapons included military-style assault rifles, more than 17 automatic pistols, revolvers and 35 kilos of ammunition. Investigators believe that the weapons were intended for resale.
Police said after 10 months of investigation, a large trafficking of arms and drugs from Venezuela was dismantled by the Central Office for the Suppression of Illegal Traffic in Narcotics (OCRTIS) after a final operation last week in St. Joseph”
According to Martinique 1ere, 11,000 euros in cash, 130 kilos of cocaine and seized vehicles, the investigators have seized an “impressive” amount of firearms: military-style assault rifles, more than 17 automatic pistols, revolvers, 35 kilos of ammunition — weapons presumably for resale.
“This operation allowed for a seizure that is quite exceptional in the judicial history of Martinique,” said Jean Damien Moustier, head of the Caribbean branch of OCRTIS.
The reports state that OCRTIS conducted the investigation with “colleagues in Saint Lucia and Venezuela for 10 months to identify the mechanisms of a team of traffickers who were responsible for importing and managing the weapons”.
Our poor little St.Lucia is getting a black-eye from the negative and sensational
news about that Drug Thing Globally. Someone sent me a section of a Toronto
Star Newspaper, Feb. 2. 2019, oh boy, with three full pages on how a 26 year old
beautiful University Graduate, sold herself to international Drug dealers as a mule
landed in jail after being busted at Toronto Airport for carrying two Kilos of Cocaine
from St.Lucia; but that pretty little chick is not that dumb; well educated and widely
travelled, She knew what she was getting into, has at times brought up to five pounds
of Cocaine into the Country. Miss O’Brien told her story of her visits to Argentina, Peru,
Turkey, Indonesia,Turks and Caicos Islands, Asia. Columbia, Mexico Etc Etc. This is
one type we can do without on this ‘Rock’. But what can you do with such a pretty thing.
they fall prey to the unseen and unknown Drug Lords, and the young pay the heavy price.