Local News
Four detained in St. Barths in OFAST drug operation linked to Saint-Martin
Four people aged 15 to 21 were detained in Saint-Barthélemy on September 29 in an operation by France's anti-drug-trafficking office against trafficking between Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin, the gendarmerie said. Two main suspects have been summoned to court in Saint-Martin.
By SXM Daily ·
Four young people aged 15 to 21 were detained in Saint-Barthélemy on Tuesday, September 29, during an operation against drug trafficking between Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin. That is according to a gendarmerie press release, as reported last week by Journal de Saint-Barth and France-Antilles.
The operation was led by the Saint-Martin detachment of OFAST, France's anti-drug-trafficking office. In total, five people are implicated in the case, the gendarmerie said. Everyone involved is presumed innocent.
What was reported
The operation started at 6:00 a.m. under the authority of the Basse-Terre prosecutor's office in Guadeloupe. It was supported by the intervention platoon of the Mont-de-Marsan mobile gendarmerie squadron and the Saint-Martin customs coast guard, with logistics provided by the Collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy.
After being held in police custody, the two people described as the main suspects were summoned to appear before the detached chamber of the court in Saint-Martin.
What is not known
The reports do not say which drugs were involved, whether any were seized, in what quantities, what charges are being considered, or when the court date is. They also do not explain the situation of the fifth person implicated. SXM Daily has not seen the gendarmerie release itself, which was not found online.
At least one of those detained is a minor, and SXM Daily is not naming anyone involved.
What happens next
No court date has been made public. A summons means the two main suspects are expected to appear before the court in Saint-Martin at a later date. It does not mean they have been found guilty of anything. Journal de Saint-Barth said more details would follow in a later publication. SXM Daily will update this story if authorities release more information.
Sources
- https://www.journaldesaintbarth.com/fr/actualites/faits-divers/lutte-contre-le-trafic-de-stupefiants-quatre-arrestations-dans-une-operation-de-lofast-202610021644.html
- https://www.guadeloupe.franceantilles.fr/actualite/saint-martin/demantelement-dun-trafic-de-stupefiants-entre-saint-barthelemy-et-saint-martin-1094957.php
- https://la1ere.franceinfo.fr/guadeloupe/trafic-de-stupefiants-entre-saint-barthelemy-et-saint-martin-quatre-jeunes-interpelles-1744263.html
- https://smn-news.com/index.php/st-maarten-st-martin-news/51915-ofast-operation-targets-drug-trafficking-between-saint-barthelemy-and-saint-martin.html