Four Antiguan men have been formally charged and granted bail following one of the largest cannabis seizures in Antigua and Barbuda's recent history. According to Antigua.news, the arrests stem from a coordinated multi-agency law enforcement operation that dismantled an unlicensed plantation near Pares Village last week.
Rodwell McCurdy, Vincent Isaac, Garry Creighton, and Javen Ryner appeared before Chief Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel on Monday, June 8th. Each man faces charges of possession of cannabis, drug trafficking in relation to cured cannabis, possession of cannabis plants, and cultivation of cannabis plants. Attorney Craig Christopher represented all four accused in court.
The charges follow a targeted raid conducted on June 4th, when a joint team of officers from the Narcotics Department, K-9 Unit, Gangs and Suppression Unit, and Customs Enforcement descended on the unlicensed cultivation site in the Pares Village area.
The operation yielded a significant haul. Officers seized 158.1 pounds of cured cannabis, valued at approximately EC$455,400, along with 1,119.1 pounds of cannabis plants. The combined estimated value of the seized material exceeds EC$3 million.
Chief Magistrate Emanuel set bail for each of the four accused at $500,000, with a mandatory cash component of $50,000 and the requirement of two sureties.
The conditions of release are strict. Each accused must report to the Parham Police Station three times weekly — every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday — between 6 am and 6 pm. They are also prohibited from communicating with or interfering with any potential witnesses in the matter.
Additionally, all four men must surrender their Antiguan and Barbudan travel documents and are subject to an immediate travel ban at all ports of entry.
The case has been adjourned to August 26th, 2026, when it will return before the court for committal proceedings.
