A dual citizen of Saint Lucia and the United States has pleaded guilty to multiple firearm and drug-related charges following a high-profile police operation in Castries late last year.
Fifty-year-old Chester Garner Ernest, of Careille, Castries, appeared before the High Court on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, where he admitted to all charges against him. The case stems from a December 2024 police raid during which officers uncovered a firearm hidden in a pair of sneakers, 264 rounds of ammunition concealed within a false air-conditioning vent, and a quantity of compressed marijuana packed inside a barrel.
Ernest was subsequently charged with possession of a firearm, three counts of possession of ammunition, possession of controlled drugs, and possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply. His sentencing has been set for December 12, 2025.
Authorities confirmed that Ernest remains on remand in connection with a separate 2022 firearms importation case, reopened earlier this year following new evidence. The Gangs, Narcotics and Firearms Unit formally charged him on July 4, 2025, with three counts of firearms importation linked to a seizure at the Castries Port.
In a statement, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) reaffirmed its commitment to aggressively pursuing individuals involved in the trafficking and possession of illegal firearms and narcotics, emphasizing that such efforts are critical to maintaining public safety and curbing gun violence across communities.
