PHILIPSBURG--Police arrested on Thursday a young local man who is suspected of being involved in an international drug trafficking ring. He was arrested after another suspect named him during questioning, prosecutors said.
In custody is E.L. Jr., son of a prominent politician and member of the Netherlands Antilles Parliament. His brother was held last month on suspicion of involvement in drug transhipment to the Netherlands.
U.S. authorities caught on February 1 a man identified only as B.M. trying to sneak cocaine dissolved in a bottle of bay leaves into the country. M. told the authorities he was not the only one involved in the crime, Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos said Friday.
M. pointed the finger at a young woman whose last initial is J. as a co-conspirator. The authorities subsequently arrested her. During questioning, she told investigators L. was involved in the crime.
The U.S. has not sought extradition of the two suspects and it is not yet known whether the men will be tried in St. Maarten or in the USA.
