Mugshot of Tahir Donadelle. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — Police on Thursday arrested and charged a Georgia resident for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute at the Cyril E. King Airport.
The arrest of Tahir Donadelle, age 42, follows intelligence received by the Customer and Border Protection Passenger Analysis Unit which reported that Donadelle was a person of interest due to his criminal history. Donadelle and his girlfriend had arrived in St. Thomas on September 8th from Atlanta, Georgia.
According to the probable cause fact sheet, the officers assigned traveled to the CEKA baggage claim carousel at the air operations area to locate the suspect and his girlfriend’s belongings. After identifying the luggage from the bag tags, the officers searched them and discovered several packages of a green leaky substance. They then closed the luggage and placed them back on the carousel and observed who claimed the luggage in which they discovered the substance.
The CBP officers observed a male and female later identified as Donadelle and his girlfriend. They stopped them and escorted them for further investigation. The narcotics were weighed and tested positive for marijuana. Donadelle admitted that the marijuana solely belonged to him. He was then turned over and placed under arrest.
Investigations revealed that Donadelle was in possession of twelve packages containing marijuana, totaling 2.98 pounds. He was also in possession of ten bags of unidentified blue pills weighing 118.1 grams which will be sent to the mainland for testing.
In court on Friday, a judge ruled that Donadelle must pay 10 percent of $7,500 bail in order to be released. If posted, he must surrender his Georgia driver’s license and is not permitted to St. Thomas/St. John without authorization from the courts. He is further not permitted to possess a firearm or ammunition. Donadelle's arraignment hearing has been set for September 30th.
