Quartet charged in relation to multi-million-dollar drug seizure
By Latrishka Thomas Four men appeared in court yesterday charged in connection with one of the largest drug seizures in Antigua and Barbuda in recent years — a haul of more than 1,200 pounds of cannabis with a combined street value exceeding EC$3 million. Rodwell McCurdy, Vincent Isaac, Garry Creighton, and Javen Ryner, all represented […]
Black News 
By Latrishka Thomas
Four men appeared in court yesterday charged in connection with one of the largest drug seizures in Antigua and Barbuda in recent years — a haul of more than 1,200 pounds of cannabis with a combined street value exceeding EC$3 million.
Rodwell McCurdy, Vincent Isaac, Garry Creighton, and Javen Ryner, all represented by attorney Craig Christopher, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel facing four serious charges: possession of cannabis, drug trafficking in relation to cured cannabis, possession of cannabis plants, and cultivation of cannabis plants.
The charges stem from a joint law enforcement operation carried out on June 4th, when officers from the Narcotics Department, K-9 Unit, Gangs and Suppression Unit, and Customs Enforcement descended on an unlicensed cannabis plantation near Pares Village. What they uncovered was staggering in scale — 158.1 pounds of cured cannabis valued at approximately $455,400 EC, and 1,119.1 pounds of cannabis plants carrying an estimated value of over three million EC dollars.
Yesterday, Chief Magistrate Emanuel granted bail to each of the accused in the sum of $500,000, with a mandatory cash component of $50,000 and the provision of two sureties.
The conditions attached to their release are stringent. Each man is required to report to the Parham Police Station every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. They are further prohibited from communicating with or interfering with any potential witnesses, must surrender all Antiguan and Barbudan travel documents, and are subject to an immediate travel ban at all ports of entry.
The matter has been adjourned to August 26th 2026, for committal proceedings.
