The police have arrested a United States national in connection with the possession and importation of cannabis following a joint drug interdiction operation at the V.C. Bird International Airport.

Fady Aziz Saloum, 34 of the United States of America was taken into custody after officers attached to the Narcotics Department, along with members of the K-9 Unit and Customs Enforcement Unit, conducted a joint operation at the airport on Saturday, 7 March, at approximately 4:30 p.m.

During the operation, K-9 dog alerted officers to a black suitcase belonging to the suspect, who had arrived in Antigua on United Airlines Flight 2020 from Pennsylvania, United States.

During the search, officers discovered twenty-three (23) pre-wrapped cannabis joints along with one blue zip-lock bag containing a quantity of vegetable material resembling the controlled drug cannabis.

The substances were seized and taken along with the suspect to Police Headquarters for further investigations.

The items were later weighed and amounted to fifty-six (56) grams of cannabis, with an estimated street value of EC$560.00.

The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda continues to strengthen its drug interdiction efforts at ports of entry and reminds all travelers that the importation and possession of controlled drugs remain serious offences under the laws of Antigua and Barbuda.