Local authorities believe the parcels of cocaine found aboard the Guyanese vessel ‘Krautsand’ in Tortola last week were likely picked up in Trinidad and Tobago.
The vessel was found to be ferrying 44.20 kilogrammes of cocaine last week by British Virgin Islands authorities. It had left the local shores loaded with lumber, coconuts, rice and paddy, according to a source.
The vessel, which departed Guyana’s waters in June, then sailed to Trinidad and Tobago, where authorities believe the cocaine were placed on board before it departed.
The BVI Beacon on Thursday reported BVI Police Information Officer Akia Thomas as saying that the vessel came to the BVI from Trinidad containing building materials. Multiple persons have been interviewed, the report stated, but police have not announced any arrests.
BVI News on Tuesday reported that the BVI’s local law enforcement agency made a seizure of 44.20 kilogrammes of cocaine from the vessel, Krautsand, in Purcell Estate, Tortola, on July 18th.
The cocaine was found concealed among bags of Thin Set cement. Three pallets containing 200 bags of cement were discovered and searched and the narcotics were found among the cement.
The discovery was the result of a joint operation between the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and Her Majesty’s Customs.
A source told Stabroek News that the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit’s investigation has revealed that the brand of cement in which the parcels of narcotics were found are products of Trinidad and Tobago.
According to shipspotting.com, an online community for ship photos and related topics, Krautsand, which is a general cargo vessel, flies a Guyana flag and Georgetown is listed as its home port.
