Venezuelan vessel seized in Chateaubelair

Residents of the northwestern town of Chateaubelair were rudely awakened from their early morning sleep on Wednesday by gunshots. Residents said that they heard about 20 shots along with boat engines roaring up and down the Chateaubelair bay at around 3:45 a.m.{{more}}

Commander Tyrone James of the St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Coast Guard told SEACHLIGHT that the operation was a joint exercise between the SVG Coast Guard and the Regional Security Service (RSS) in the continued fight against trafficking in illegal drugs.

A 40-foot, wooden hull pirogue with four 75-horsepower engines was seized by the Coastguard after it was cornered at the southern end of the Chateaubelair bay ironically named Corner Bay. The vessel named Hay Malta with registration credentials ADSS6750 and its home port in Carupano Venezuela was taken to the Coastguard base at Calliaqua.

Juan Carlos Rivas a 42-year-old Venezuelan national was apprehended as he tried to escape, however three other men escaped and are now being sought by police.