RCMP hunt for suspect who escaped custody after fiery cocaine bust off N.S. coast

RCMP are searching for a man who escaped custody from aDartmouth, N.S., hospital after being arrested in connection with a drug bust off the province's coast.

Karin Marley Simons, 32, of Antigua was one of two men charged after Quebec RCMP and the Canadian Coast Guard seized 556 kilograms of what they suspect to be cocaine from a burning sailboat on Aug. 29.

RCMP said in a Sept. 2 news release that police and the coast guardwere tipped off to a suspicious boat.

A sailboat matching the description was located off Nova Scotia, butas officers approached, they saw smoke coming from the boat and a rapidly spreading fire.

Two people who were aboard the boat were taken into custody ona coast guard vessel. RCMP officers seized packages floating in the sailboat's cabin believed to contain cocaine, said the news release.

Simons andAleck Villeneuve, 38,of Kelowna, B.C., have been charged with conspiracy to import narcotics. Villeneuvealso faces charges ofimporting cocaine and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

RCMP said Simons escaped custody Aug. 30 after being taken to Dartmouth General Hospital for an assessment.

He is described as a Black man, five feet nine inches, with black hair in dreadlocks and dark brown eyes. He was barefoot when he waslast seen and wearing black shorts.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Simons is asked to contact RCMP at1-800-803-7267 orNova Scotia Crime Stoppers at1-800-222-8477, submit a secure web tip atwww.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3Tips App.