Drama on high seas: duo allegedly threw $2.85M worth of cocaine overboard
The accused appeared in the Magistrate’s Court this afternoon, Thursday November 3, 2011 and pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine, importation of cocaine and possession of cocaine with intent to supply. They were arrested following a high sea chase and the discovery of 28.57 kilogrammes of cocaine, worth some $2.85M.
However, DeCastro aka Rabbit, who is represented by Duane Baptiste, was offered bail in the sum of $250,000 of which $50,000 has to be paid in cash. He has to surrender his two passports and report to the Road Town Police Station every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
His alleged accomplice Caena, a Dominican Republic national, who needed an interpreter at the hearing, informed Senior Magistrate Valerie Stephens that he is awaiting help from his brothers to determine his legal representation and was put on remand.
Against this backdrop, a reporting date – November 9 – has been carded to ascertain if Caena will get a lawyer and for a report on the drug analysis.
Drama on high seas
According to Crown Counsel Graham, the Virgin Islands (VI) law enforcement officers received a tip around 1:30 p.m. November 1 from their St. Maarten counterparts of a vessel heading here with suspected illegal substance on-board.
Customs “Midnight Express” and the police “MV Defender” were mobilized at possible interception points, Graham told the court.
At around 3:45p.m., a 30-foot powerboat fitting the description of the vessel was spotted at Anderson Point, Brewers Bay. When officers tried to intercept it, the Crown Counsel said, it swerved into Little Harbour, Jost Van Dyke.
“Officers lost sight of the vessel briefly, but gave pursuit as the vessel sped off in a westernly direction…it stopped at the West End point of Jost Van Dyke,” Graham stated.
Law enforcement officers observed that the vessel was captained by DeCastro and saw another individual with him, alleged to be Caena. The court heard that DeCastro was seen talking on a mobile phone, which he reportedly threw overboard.
The vessel and the two men were searched but nothing illegal was found. However, the hatchet was opened.
Hence, officers went back to the initial area where the vessel was spotted and found 14 brick-like packages suspected to be cocaine, as well as, three black plastic bags containing pellets.
Crown Counsel Graham further stated that the vessel the men were in was the only one in the vicinity where the illegal substance was found.
The following day, November 2, 2011, Police canine 'Krogen' sniffed the vessel and allegedly found two positive locations for cocaine residue – one in the area of the hatchet and the other at the center of the console.
Furthermore, three blocks of suspected cocaine were found in the Brewers Bay area in a blue plastic bag.
As for the ownership of the vessel, Crown Counsel Graham told the court that the registration number has been erased.
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