Joint operation nabs four with marijuana in BVI

Tuesday, October 14, 2003

ROAD TOWN, BVI: Four Venezuelan nationals and two Colombians were detained earlier today are now in custody following a joint narcotics operation by Her Majesty's Customs and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force Drug Squad of the BVI on Sunday and late yesterday. 

Fifty-seven bales of marijuana were confiscated and a boat detained after police received a "tip-off" that a suspicious vessel had grounded near Savannah Bay Beach on the sister island.

Assistant Comptroller Enforcement, Mr. Dean Fahie, told the island's the Government Information Service that customs officers received a "tip-off" that a suspicious vessel had grounded near Savannah Bay Beach on the sister island and responded immediately. There they discovered that a 55-foot boat painted with the name "Don Jesus" had indeed run aground just off the beach.

He said the customs officers first conducted detailed interviews with the four crew members on board and then decided to carry out a thorough surveillance of the immediate surroundings, including the beach area.

Mr. Fahie said, later in the day, another intensive search of the outer areas was carried out and the bales of marijuana were discovered among the bushes, apparently placed there in a hasty attempt to conceal them on the beach at Savannah Bay. The value of the illegal drugs is still to be determined.

The search continued yesterday into the nearby areas and officers intercepted two more men - Colombians - on Ginger Island.  

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