Mugshot of Rayjon M. Ali Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX - A man who reportedly told Department of Homeland Security Special Agents that he was "just trying to make some quick money," must now defend himself against felony drug charges after his suitcase was found to contain over two pounds of marijuana.
According to court documents, V.I. Police Department officers were notified on the evening of December 3 that a man had been detained by Customs and Border Protection officers at the Henry E. Rohlsen airport for possession of marijuana.
Responding officers met with their CBP counterparts, who told them that Rayjon Ali had recently landed on St. Croix via a Spirit Airlines flight from Philadelphia, which had an interim stop in Fort Lauderdale.
Narcotics-detecting canine units involved in a sweep of the baggage claim area had reportedly alerted on a hardshell suitcase bearing a Spirit Airlines tag with Ali's name on it. When Ali picked up the suitcase from the conveyor belt, CBP officials escorted him to a secondary inspection area, where they opened the bag and found $3310 in U..S currency, and three bags of a compacted green leafy substance which returned positive test results for marijuana. The total weight of the plant material was 957 grams.
Documents before the court indicate that Ali told a special agent who was gathering preliminary information that he knew he had done something wrong, but he just wanted to make quick money. However, Ali reportedly did not offer an official statement when it was time to make one. He was ultimately arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
Information from court records indicates that during Ali's advice of rights hearing on Monday, Magistrate Yolan Brow Ross set a cash component of $750 as part of the bail requirements. However, the full details of the hearing had not yet been released to the public.
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