The Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas. Photo Credit: V.I. CONSORTIUM.
ST. THOMAS — Federal drug trafficking charges have been filed against Devonte Best after Customs and Border Protection officers at Cyril E. King Airport allegedly found 25.23 kilograms of marijuana and 3.19 kilograms of psilocybin mushrooms in two checked bags he retrieved from an American Airlines flight arriving from Charlotte, North Carolina.
According to federal law enforcement, CBP officers were conducting routine screening Wednesday of bags coming off the inbound flight when one piece of luggage raised suspicion. An inspection revealed “anomalies” inside the bag, which officers then placed back with the other luggage while they waited to see who would collect it.
A man later identified as Best picked up the suspicious bag, along with another piece of luggage, and was intercepted by CBP officers for secondary screening. He reportedly claimed both bags, each of which carried tags bearing his name.
Officers opened the luggage and found fabric pouches inside, each containing vacuum-sealed bags. Inside those sealed bags were other plastic bags, some containing a green leafy substance and others containing a substance “resembling mushrooms,” according to officers.
Both substances were field tested and returned positive results for marijuana and psilocybin, respectively. Officers said they recovered a total of 25.23 kilograms of marijuana and 3.19 kilograms of psilocybin mushrooms from Mr. Best’s checked luggage.
Best reportedly told officers that he knew about the marijuana, but not the mushrooms. According to federal law enforcement, he said he was bringing the contraband to someone on St. Thomas.
He was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of psilocybin mushrooms with intent to distribute.
On Thursday, U.S. Magistrate Alan Teague found probable cause to uphold the charges, assigned Best a public defender, and set bail at $15,000 signed as an unsecured bond.
Best must return to North Carolina by Saturday and remain there unless traveling to St. Thomas for court. While on the mainland, he must submit to home detention, Judge Teague ruled.
