Drugs seized at sea on the evening of Friday 7th July, 2023, has a street value of between 120 and 140 million United States dollars, according to a report made by Police Commissioner, Robert Clark in a recent press briefing.
Six South American nationals are currently held at His Majesty’s Prison, pending trial in connection with the seizure.
The seizure of the sixty bails of cocaine, equivalent to two tons, was the result of surveillance cooperation between US authorities, the UK National Crime Agency, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, the Royal Anguilla Police Force, which intercepted the two vessels, and the Anguilla Customs Department.
When asked by The Anguillian’s James Harrigan what had actually become of the massive quantity of drugs, Commissioner Clark stated that because it is not convenient to destroy such a large amount of narcotics locally, the cocaine was taken off island by the US Drug Enforcement Agency to be destroyed in the US.
Radio Anguilla’s Felicia Hennis asked whether the six who are detained will be tried locally or extradited. Commissioner Clark replied “Initially, we are conducting our inquires. If we have a partner law enforcement agency off island who wants to make different inquiries, then we will determine through the office of the Attorney General’s Chambers and the office of the Governor where is the best place to try them.”
Commissioner Clark said that soon he will be meeting with an incoming UK official concerning the matter. He also noted that in fact, the week prior to the interception and drug seizure, he had been in a meeting with BVI authorities and had highlighted the importance of working together as mutual counterparts in the fight against cross-border crime.
