PHILIPSBURG:--- During the past week, Customs Officers confiscated approximately 336 kilos of marijuana and 1 kilo of cocaine.
On May 17th Custom Officers at the Princess Juliana International Airport confiscated 1 (one) kilo of cocaine from a male passenger with initials J.E.M. who arrived on the Insel Air flight from Curacao. The suspect had swallowed 83 "bolitas" which was proven from X-ray pictures taken at the St. Maarten Medical Center. The suspect was brought to the station to discharge the "bolitas". Investigations into this matter are ongoing.
On May 13th Customs Officers at the Point Blanche Harbor facilities along with the Coast Guard and the Justice K9 confiscated 101 packages of marijuana hidden in banana slips from a vessel originating from St. Vincent. This shipment of marijuana with a total weight of approximately 36 kilos was destined for Tortola.
On May 22nd during a routine control Customs Officers at the Point Blanche Harbor Facilities confiscated 15 boxes of marijuana from a container vessel originating from Jamaica, in transit to Antigua. The assistance of the Justice K-9 was called in to confirm that no more contraband was hidden in other areas of the container. The total amount of this seizure was approximately 300 kilos.
Customs will continue to intensify controls at the Princess Juliana International Airport and the Point Blanche Harbor facilities.
Customs confiscated 336 kilos of marijuana, 1 kilo of cocaine.
