CASTRIES – A 35-year-old American national was fined EC$6,000 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) after a quantity of marijuana had been found in his possession when he arrived at the Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) south of here last Saturday.

Police said that the cannabis was discovered in the luggage of Michael Garrick Charlemagne, after a joint operation conducted by the Gangs, Narcotics and Firearms Unit Southern Detachment and Customs officials, targeted passengers arriving on Delta Flight 1064 from Atlanta.

Charlemagne was found carrying 13 vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis, pre-rolled joints, vapes, and rolling papers, with a total weight of three hundred and sixty-five (365) grams and an estimated street value of EC$825.

He was charged with possession of a controlled drug, possession with intent to supply, and importation of a controlled drug.

When he appeared at the Second District Court at Bordelais Correctional Facility on Monday, Charlemagne pleaded guilty to the charges and that the EC$6,000 fine must be paid by Thursday, or he will a three-month prison sentence.

Meanwhile, police say a 37-year-old American national, who had been reported missing last week and his body found along the shoreline at Rodney Bay, north of here, had died by drowning.

In a statement, the police said that a post-mortem examination done on the body of Travis Andrew Wyant, had concluded that the cause of death was drowning and that the “pathologist also presented that there were no indicators of trauma to Wyant’s body, which could have contributed to his death”.

The police said that as part of the ongoing investigation into his death, several people have been interviewed, as investigators continue to piece together the sequence of events leading up to this death.

 

“The Commissioner, executive, and rank and file of the RSLPF extend the deepest condolences to the family of Travis Andrew Wyant. The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force remains available to provide support,” the police said in the statement. (CMC)