From left to right: Pedro Samuel Sr. and Reno Alphonso, along with the drugs confiscated on Sat. August 13, 2022 onboard a boat off Cooper Island, BVI.
Another huge narcotics bust over the weekend resulted in the arrest of two men from the British Virgin Islands.
Pedro Samuel Sr., 58, and 27-year-old Reno Alphonso were onboard a boat off Cooper Island, which is part of the British Virgin Islands, on Saturday afternoon when officers with the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force Marine Branch intercepted the vessel during routine stop-and-search operations. After initially failing to comply with an order to stop, the boat eventually came to a halt and was boarded by authorities.
The initial search by officers revealed a small quantity of what resembled cocaine, but as the police continued combing through the vessel, they uncovered approximately 400 kilograms of the same substance.
The two men were charged with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to supply, and with failing to comply with a lawful order given by an officer.
Dean Robin, acting chief inspector of the RVIPF Marine Branch, said that officers are determined to apprehend drug traffickers who conduct business within territorial waters.
The BVI has long been known as a hotspot for trafficking operations, and had a recent unwelcome turn in the limelight since former Premier Andrew Fahie was arrested in Miami alongside the head of the BVI Ports Authority Oleanvine Maynard. The pair, along with Maynard's son Kadeem, were hit with drug smuggling and money laundering conspiracy charges following a sting operation by U.S. federal law enforcement. Each faces a prison term of at least 20 years if convicted.
Advertisements
