Head of Customs Ademar Doran said the suspect came in from Kingston Jamaica on BWIA flight 417 around 6pm. The head of said custom officers at the Airport noticed the suspect later identified as W.M Thompson (27) was struggling to carry his suitcase because of its weight. At that point the officers decided to do a random control to determine why the suitcase was so heavy. Doran said the officers immediately noticed that the suitcase was made from fiber glass and as such they were forced to use heavy tools to cut the suitcase to see what was inside. Doran said when the officers informed the passenger that he was detained pending the inspection of his suitcase the suspect ran out of the arrival hall and began running in the direction of WINAIR building. Doran said at the custom officers were chasing the suspect on foot but they were forced to fire two warning shots in an effort to stop the suspect who managed to hide for a period of time.
Police back up were called and a thorough search was conducted on the Airport road. The suspect was found hiding in a yard next to Best Deal Car Rental. The customs department is busy investigating the case.
Doran said this is not the first time the suspect visited St. Maarten, but it is yet to determine if he has smuggled drugs to the island before.