$5.3M cocaine found aboard Caribbean AirlinesBy NALINEE SEELAL Friday, February 23 2007
A tip-off on Carnival Monday afternoon led police officers to the cargo hold of a Caribbean Airlines Flight 600.
Cocaine valued at TT $5.3M was found cleverly concealed in vegetable crates of carailli bound for Canada.
Reports revealed that shortly after noon on Monday, officers of the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau on duty at the Piarco International Airport, carried out a search in the cargo hold where they found the drugs, but were unable to make any arrests. The 1,246 cocaine pellets which weighed 13.4 kilos were seized and taken to the office of the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau.
Yesterday, officers were engaged in tracing the origin of the drugs in Trinidad.
Police sources told Newsday that the vegetables were being sent to a company in Canada.
Canadian authorities were notified, and are now working closely with local narcotics officers to crack what is believed to be a drug trafficking ring.
Officers told Newsday that based on information received, a thriving drug smuggling ring now exists between Trinidad and Tobago and Canada, with the drugs bound finally for the USA.
Officers added that the people involved in the trade are using new methods of smuggling, and as a result, more surveillance and checks were now being made on items being shipped to Canada.
Caribbean Airlines started operations on January 1, 2007, replacing national carrier BWIA.
Yesterday’s bust was the first bust aboard the new airline.
Director of Corporate Affairs at Caribbean Airlines, Dionne Ligoure said yesterday, if the drugs had reached Canada undetected and was found by the Canadian authorities a heavy fine would have been imposed on the airline. She said that Caribbean Airlines has in place stringent measures to deal with drug trafficking, and she commended the police for their swift response on Monday.
In a release issued yesterday, Caribbean Airlines commended the officers and internal security at the Piarco International Airport for what they described as an excellent job they continue to perform in controlling and intercepting illegal substances on Caribbean Airlines aircraft.
“Caribbean Airlines assures its stakeholders that the airlines’ security systems meet and surpass the international standards required by all airlines,” the release stated. It added that the airline remains vigilant, and continues to work closely with the respective authorities to ensure the opportunities to transport illegal substances are minimised”.
Minister of National Security Martin Joseph, who was present at yesterday’s post-Cabinet media conference at Whitehall said he was not aware of the $5.3M drug bust on Caribbean Airlines.
