FREDERIKSTED — A Crucian couple about to board a commercial aircraft In St. Croix were caught after federal agents detected nearly nine pounds of cocaine hidden in frozen conch they intended to take to Florida.
Edward Saldana, 36, and Bianca Torres, 34, both of St. Croix, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson, III, for their initial appearance hearing after being charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, U.S. Attorney Delia L. Smith said.
According to court documents, on January 23, 2023, Saldana and Torres were ticketed passengers on Spirit Airlines Flight #NK449 from St. Croix to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
During their primary inspection at the Henry Rohlsen Airport, both Saldana and Torres were in possession of carry-on cooler bags containing individually wrapped packages of frozen conch. Upon inspection of the packages,
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents discovered four kilograms of a white powdery substance concealed inside the frozen conch. The powered substance later field tested positive for cocaine hydrochloride.
If convicted, Saldana and Torres face a minimum of five years and maximum of 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Customs Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are assigned to the investigation and Assistant United States Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz is prosecuting this case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
United States Attorney Smith said that a criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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