Two employees of the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) have been formally charged as part of an ongoing investigation into an organized criminal network suspected of facilitating the smuggling of narcotics and firearms through Port Castries.
Following a coordinated operation on Wednesday, November 19th, 2025, police arrested and charged 30-year-old Irvin Faucher, an Operations Clerk, and 37-year-old Cyril Joseph, a Red Cap. Both men now face five counts of fraudulent evasion of customs duties and five counts of importing prohibited or restricted goods without authorization under the Customs Control and Management Act.
The accused appeared before a magistrate on Friday, November 21st, 2025, where they were each granted $10,000 bail. The matter is scheduled to return to court on February 26th, 2025.
A pivotal moment in the investigation occurred on Friday, October 18th, 2025, when law enforcement intercepted a vehicle driven by Cyril Joseph at Port Castries. A search of a barrel inside the vehicle, one that had not been presented for Customs inspection, revealed a significant quantity of controlled drugs, including over 12,000 grams of cannabis resin and more than 1,000 grams of MDMA crystals
This discovery intensified the investigation and led directly to the charges laid on Thursday.
Police confirm that the most recent charges against Joseph come in addition to narcotics-related charges previously brought against him on October 22nd.
Investigators say the probe is ongoing and further updates will be released as the operation continues to uncover the extent of the smuggling network.
