The Criminal Investigation Unit of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police force is investigating the circumstances in which over 100 pounds of compressed marijuana entered the waters of the federation in the early morning hours on Thursday.
At a suddenly announced press conference on ZIZ Radio and carried live on Freedom Fm, Acting Commissioner of Police Stafford Liburd told reporters that officers – acting on a tip, conducted an operation on the secluded beach in Conaree around 5:00 a.m.which resulted in one man, a non national being killed and 3 others including 2 nationals and another non national being placed under arrest.
According to Liburd, who remains tight lipped about the parties involved in this smuggling operation, the family of the deceased has not been notified.
The police also refrained from disclosing the identity of the local occupants of the pick-up, the foreign operators of the vessel and whether the vessel, which they have confiscated is registered in Antigua.
He revealed however, that during the operation the police was assisted by other security organizations.
Deputy Commissioner with responsibility for Crime, Ian Queeley said the operation was a success and that the police wore police clothing and identified themselves as police officers.
Meanwhile Ag. Commissioner said that names of all the individuals involved in the drug bust would be revealed shortly. Rumours persist that a prominent individual was arrested and taken into custody during the sting operation.