Last week, Border Patrol agents arrested two people and seized over 75 kilograms of cocaine and two assault rifles, among other contraband, after witnessing suspicious activity on the trail leading to Haulover Bay on St. John.
According to court documents, just before 2 pm on August 28, law enforcement officials spotted a gray Acura RDX approaching the trail to Haulover Bay. About 20 minutes later, a trail camera picked up two men walking towards the water. One, who appeared to be masked, looked like he was carrying a long-barreled firearm.
The two men soon reappeared on surveillance cameras heading back up the trail. This time, they were carrying three black duffle bags. Soon afterwards, the gray Acura was seen leaving the trailhead.
Agents followed the vehicle for approximately five minutes as it drove west down Centerline Road. When it pulled off to the side of the road, officials seized the opportunity to box the vehicle in to prevent it from driving any further. After approaching the vehicle, agents reportedly spotted two M4 rifles in the back of the RDX.
An initial search of the vehicle further yielded a pistol on the driver’s side floorboard, a black ski mask on the passenger side, and three black duffle bags in the back. The firearms all had magazines, loaded with suitable ammunition.The rifles were not marked with serial numbers.
Driver and passenger were wearing clothing similar to that worn by the two men seen on Haulover Bay surveillance cameras minutes earlier. They were identified as Yeral Marrero Reynoso and Ery Rivera Palmer respectively, citizens of the Dominican Republic. Border Patrol agents could not find any information to suggest that the men were in the territory legally.
The duffel bags were found to contain 61 bricks of a substance that returned positive field test results for cocaine. In total, the bricks weighed 75.95 kilograms, an amount that agents determined was “inconsistent with personal use amounts.”
Mr. Reynoso and Mr. Palmer was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and alien in possession of a firearm.
Prosecutors have asked the court to withhold bail in the matter.
