• A police operation led to the seizure of three hundred and thirty (330) grammes of cocaine and sixty-nine (69) rounds of prohibited ammunition within the territorial waters of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
• Reports indicate that on Friday, October 14, 2022, at around 4:30 pm, the SVG Coast Guard Service (SVGCGS) intercepted a 29 feet pirogue west of Canouan with four nationals of Trinidad and Tobago onboard.
• The Trinidadians are: 1. Kerry Keller, a 26-year-old Labourer;
2. Joel Medina, a 31-year-old Fisherman;
3. Dion Harry, a 22-year-old Fisherman; and
4. Andre Lee, a 45-year-old Fisherman.
• The men were arrested on suspicion and taken to the Coast Guard Base in Calliaqua along with the vessel where a comprehensive search was conducted on the vessel by Coast Guard and Narcotics Officers.
• The search led to the discovery of three hundred and thirty grammes (330g) of cocaine, forty-nine (49) rounds of 7.62 ammunition, and twenty (20) rounds of 5.56 ammunition.
As a consequence, the men were jointly charged with the following offences:
1. Possession of a Controlled Drug with intent to supply it to another;
2. Possession of a Controlled Drug for the purpose of Drug Trafficking;
3. Attempting to Import a Controlled Drug within the territorial waters of St. Vincent and the Grenadines;
4. Possession of sixty-nine (69) rounds of prohibited ammunition without the authorization of the Minister;
5. Possession of ammunition without a license issued under the Firearms Act.
• The defendants appeared at the Serious Offences Court on Monday, October 17, 2022, to answer the charges.
• Dion Harry pleaded guilty to all charges while the remainder pleaded not guilty.
• They were all remanded into custody at His Majesty’s Prison pending a review.
