CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A St. Thomas man was arrested today for trying to fly with 50 pounds of cocaine to Atlanta, authorities said.
Shahime Ludvig, Jr., 20, of Charlotte Amalie was arrested on a complaint charging him with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said.
Ludvig made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller and was detained pending further proceedings.
According to the complaint, Ludvig was attempting to smuggle 23 kilograms of cocaine through the Cyril E. King International Airport to Atlanta, Georgia on Delta Flight #307.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agents discovered that the suitcase Ludvig checked in for the flight contained white, brick-like objects that field-tested positive for cocaine and weighed about 23 kilograms.
If convicted of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, Ludvig faces a term of imprisonment of not less than ten years and not more than life and a fine of $10,000,000.00.
The cocaine has an estimated street value of $638,000, according to CBP.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid Tejo-Sprotte.