An April 27, 2021, seizure of illicit drugs in a container at a northern island business has remained a public concern for years, with citizens repeatedly requesting updates on arrests, charges and the status of the investigation.
At a police press conference on Wednesday, St Lucia Times pressed for an update on the matter. Assistant Superintendent of Police in charge of the Gangs, Narcotics and Firearms Unit, Shervon Matthieu, confirmed that the case is now considered “cold”.
Superintendent Dominic Leonty, who is in charge of the Central Police Station, explained that the case has reached this stage because investigators have not received the information needed to move it forward over the five years since the seizure.
“With reference to that incident… as it relates to possession, there are a number of things that need to be proven… You would have to find out who was responsible for bringing that container there. With possession, there is a chain of custody, so once it is broken, you have a problem,” Leonty said.
“Now remember, once you have said it is drugs, do you think that somebody would put up their hands and say, ‘Hey, it’s mine?’”
The drug seizure occurred before Verne Garde became Police Commissioner and before Matthieu was appointed to lead the Gangs, Narcotics and Firearms Unit. Although classified as a cold case, police say the investigation remains ongoing, pending new information that could move the case forward.
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