Keremeos residents shocked by arrest on high seas

 Shock and devastation; those are the words Keremeos resident are using following news three of their own are sitting in a South Pacific prison accused of being drug smugglers.

Australian Federal Police allege cocaine worth about $70 million was seized from a vessel called the Magalodon March 31st.

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Robert Stanley and his wife Cindy Lou Stanley, both 55, along with 48-year-old Gary Yuzik were arrested on the vessel which police say smuggled drugs from South America until being boarded by authorities near New Caledonia.

Friends in Keremeos say the Stanley’s are, “very nice people”, when speaking to CHBC News.

Robert Stanley is a former Keremeos public works foreman who began working for the village in 1989 and went on disability in 2010. Yuzik used to owne RE/ Max Keremeos Realty.

So far, Australian authorities have not confirmed the Keremeos trio have been charged, but have been detained for more than two months.