Bridgetown.
Police officers searched over 150 passengers on the pleasure cruise vessel the Jolly Roger yesterday evening after it was asked to return to the shore by police and coast guard officers.
Accompanied by two Coast Guard vessels the Enterprise and a smaller boat the Jolly Roger docked at its regular spot off the Wickham-Lewis Boardwalk in Bridgetown.
It was met by 20 armed members of the Police Special Services Unit (SSU), along with two dogs and their handlers.
Police officers on the scene told the media the search was a routine operation, onlookers however speculated that the exercise might be related to the shooting of two British tourists earlier in the nearby Hincks Street.
On docking, the DJ, under instructions from the police, told the women to go to the top deck, while the men should remain on the main deck.
After that the men were called off the boat in single file, searched, had their personal details recorded, and were then instructed to stand to the right of the vessel.
The women’s bags were searched by an armed female officer on the boat, after they came off, their personal details were recorded, then they were instructed to stand to the left.
Thereafter, the dogs and their handlers boarded the vessel and along with other officers carried out an extensive search. Two individuals on the boat were taken to their vehicles and these were also searched.
After nothing was found, the all-clear was given at 6:14 p.m,the passengers went back on the vessel and it sailed out to sea.
