Tag: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

CBP and Coast Guard Respond To Haitian Smuggling Venture That Resulted In 5 Deaths In Mona Island

AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico — U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Coast Guard and other law enforcement partners rescued 68 Haitian migrants Thursday after smugglers dropped them off near the shores of Mona Island. Five other Haitian migrants perished during the smuggling event. “Transnational criminal organizations continue to recklessly endanger the lives of individuals they smuggle for […]

5 Dead, 68 Haitians Rescued From Waters Near Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN — At least five Haitian migrants drowned and 68 others were rescued Thursday after a suspected human smuggling boat dropped the group off in waters near an uninhabited island west of Puerto Rico, officials said. The incident is the latest in a string of deadly voyages across the northern Caribbean carrying mostly Haitian […]

California Woman Charged With Smuggling Marijuana Into St. Thomas

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A California woman has been charged with trying to smuggle 45 pounds of marijuana into the St. Thomas airport this weekend. Joeva Elizabeth Williams of Sacramento, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller today following her arrest on Saturday, July 23, 2022, for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, U.S. Attorney Delia […]

Dominican Man Gets 9 Months, Deportation For Returning To USA

CHRISTIANSTED — Reynaldo Mejia-Mejia, 33, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced Friday for his conviction of illegally re-entering the UnitedStates, U.S. Attorney Delia L. Smith said. District Court Judge Wilma Lewis sentenced Mejia-Mejia to nine months of incarceration followed by one year of supervised release, deportation and was ordered not enter the United States without […]

Man Wanted On Vehicular Homicide Charge In Georgia Detained By CIB

CHARLOTTE AMALIE —– A man wanted in Georgia on a vehicular homicide in Georgia is in official custody and facing extradition, authorities said. Terelle Malik Ross, 36, was detained at 9:00 a.m. today by the Criminal Investigation Bureau after an investigation revealed that Ross was wanted out of the State of Georgia for multiple warrants, including […]

Man Charged With Smuggling Marijuana On Flight To St. Thomas 

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A St. Thomas man was taken into custody at 11:47a.m. Thursday by the Criminal Investigation Bureau after an investigation revealed that he was in possession of at least 10 pounds of marijuana, the Virgin Islands Police Department said..  Christopher T.K. Smith was observed picking up his luggage from a Miami, Florida flight and U.S. […]

Coast Guard Returns 60 Dominicans, 3 Haitians To Hispaniola After Two Illegal Voyages

SAN JUAN — The Coast Guard Cutter repatriated 60 Dominicans and returned three Haitians to the Dominican Republic between Friday and Saturday, following the interdiction of two separate illegal voyages in Mona Passage waters near Puerto Rico. The interdictions are the result of ongoing local and federal multi-agency efforts in support of the Caribbean Border Interagency […]

Coast Guard Seizes $5.2 Million In Cocaine As Part Of Caribbean Corridor Strike Force

SAN JUAN — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos offloaded 551 pounds (250 kgs) of seized cocaine Tuesday in Puerto Rico. Three men, one Venezuelan and two Dominican Republic nationals, apprehended in this case are facing federal prosecution in Puerto Rico. The interdiction is the result of multi-agency efforts in support of the Caribbean […]

3 More Crew Members of La Gran Tormenta Plead Guilty To Cocaine Smuggling

CHRISTIANSTED — Three more members of a Venezuelan fishing boat — including the vessel’s captain — have pleaded guilty to their roles in smuggling 124 pounds of cocaine to St. Croix. Vincent Mata Anyelo, 23, Alfer Rodriguez Boadas, 24, and Jhonny Rodriguez Rodriguez, 29, three of eleven Venezuelan nationals apprehended at sea off the coast […]

IN POT WE TRUST: Queens Man Gets Zero Jail Time For Bringing Gobs of Ganja In His Luggage To The USVI

U.S. District Court Judges In The U.S. Virgin Islands Are Greenlighting Marijuana Smugglers CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Federal judges in the U.S. Virgin Islands are making it crystal clear to defendants — whether you bring three pounds or 40 pounds of marijuana in your checked luggage — you will get no prison time for smuggling the […]