Two Dominicans have been charged for a drug bust at sea on Thursday, May 16, 2013.
Germaine Lamothe, 46, of Portsmouth, Dominica and Zuff Joel William, 27, of Bathroad, Portsmouth Dominica, have been charged with the seizure of 411 pounds (186.43kilos) of marijuana discovered in 14 polythene bags on a pirogue (small boat) at about 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, about two miles west of the Castries Harbor.
Police said the men were on board a vessel with the markings “Provider” and bore the registration number J7-065-STE.
“Under police escort the vessel was moored to the marine base where a thorough search was conducted of the boat,” police said in a press release.
“Both individuals were detained in police custody and were later charged for the offences of possession of a controlled drug, possession with the intent to supply a controlled drug and importation of a controlled drug,” the release further stated.
This is the second time in two months that Dominicans have been nabbed for drug trafficking in St. Lucia.
On March 15, 2013, two fishermen from Roseau, Dominica — Alex James, 39, and Rawlins Rolle, 33 — were arrested and charged in connection with a large drug seizure in the south of the island.
According the St. Lucia police, officers attached to the Marine Unit of the southern division intercepted a blue, orange and black boat named “Von Von,” 8.2 nautical miles south of Gros Piton, Soufriere in the island’s territorial waters.
The boat was searched and 1,487.2 pounds of cannabis were found.
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