by Linda Straker
- Most recent drug bust involved a Vincentian national
- Cannabis seized carries an estimated street value of $315,252
Michael Francois, Deputy Commissioner of Police has made an appeal for Grenadians to be very vigilant about any activities happening on the country’s coastlines. This is due to the possibility that some who engage in illegal activities such as drug smuggling, may use the humanitarian gesture extended by Grenada to St Vincent to conduct their transactions.
“We have adopted a 2-pronged approach. As you are aware, you have persons who are coming into Grenada in response to the invitation of the Grenada government on one hand and then you have several persons who will use the opportunity to engage in illegal activity,” Francois said during a news conference on Friday, 9 April while referring to the most recent drug bust which involved a Vincentian national.
Officers of the Drug Squad Unit seized one .380 semi-automatic pistol, a magazine and 3 rounds of ammunition; along with 139 pounds of Cannabis. These discoveries were made during police operations on Wednesday, 7 and Friday, 9 April at Palmiste, St John and Soubise, St Andrew. The cannabis seized carries an estimated street value of $315,252.
The news conference was hosted by the National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) to inform the public about the decision taken at an emergency meeting of the National Emergency Advisory Council (NEAC) to focus on the impact of the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano in St Vincent and the effects it can have on Grenada.
Francois said that the police are on high alert and there will be increased monitoring of coastlines. “We are deploying several of our police officers to the various parishes and into Carriacou at this time.” He did not divulge much information about the operations which involved increased presence of immigration, drug squad and other officers to the stations in Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
“We are in a state of high alert with respect to persons coming. We will want to know all who come to Grenada; who they are, what are their identities, where they are coming from, so we can do our background checks,” he said.
The Grenada Government has offered to accommodate people displaced by the eruption of the volcano which began with an effusive eruption in December 2020. On Thursday, the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines ordered an evacuation of residents in the red zone of the volcano.
The volcano had a massive eruption on Friday morning at 8:41 am.
Legalize ganja, license growers and stores, tax it… problem solved.