PHILIPSBURG:--- Chief Commissioner of Police Peter de Witte told SMN News on Thursday that the Insel Air drug bust investigation that landed two senior customs officers behind bars is progressing very well. De Witte said both suspects remain in custody and the investigation thus far is being conducted by KPSM alone. The top cop said that sometime in the future they will get assistance from the Landsrecherche. When asked if he believes other suspects will be arrested, De Witte said that he could not say for the moment because the investigation is still ongoing.
Two weeks ago, police and customs searched an Insel Air flight that landed on St. Maarten and they found some 270 kilos of cocaine on board the aircraft. Shortly after the illicit drugs were found, senior customs officer Nestor Sanchez was arrested in the Cole Bay area. One week later his colleague Alexander Luciano was arrested and he should be appearing before the judge of instruction on Friday where the prosecution will ask for his pretrial detention.