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Locals granted $500K bail for $30.9M cocaine bust @ VG

- Police found counting machine, vacuum sealer, sealing bag & other paraphernalia @ property Cryton Brown occupied
The two locals, Nickel Simon, left, and Cryton Brown, right, charged by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) in relation to a major cocaine bust at Virgin Gorda were granted bail in the sum of half a million dollars each when they made a first appearance at the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, October 31, 2019. Photo: VINO
Venezuelans Wilteredo Lopez Vargas, left, and Hover Morillo Ybarbia, right, were charged for the importation of 309 kilograms of a controlled drug, cocaine and illegal entry to the Virgin Islands. They were remanded to prison. Photo: VINO
Venezuelans Wilteredo Lopez Vargas, left, and Hover Morillo Ybarbia, right, were charged for the importation of 309 kilograms of a controlled drug, cocaine and illegal entry to the Virgin Islands. They were remanded to prison. Photo: VINO
The vessel the suspects were reportedly on when they were pursued by law enforcement authorities on October 27, 2019. Photo: Team of Reporters
The vessel the suspects were reportedly on when they were pursued by law enforcement authorities on October 27, 2019. Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The two locals charged by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) in relation to a major cocaine bust at Virgin Gorda were granted bail in the sum of half a million dollars each when they made a first appearance at the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, October 31, 2019.

Of the $500,000 bail amount they were both required to pay $100,000 in cash and the balance in signed sureties.

Meanwhile, the two Venezuelans also held were remanded to Her Majesty's Prison in Balsam Ghut.

309kg of cocaine worth $30.9M seized

Appearing before Magistrate Ayanna O. Baptiste- DaBreo at the Jonn's Hole Magistrates Court on Thursday October 31, 2019 were locals Nickel Simon, 25, of Lambert Estate, a certified boat captain by profession and Cryton Brown, 36, of North Sound Virgin Gorda and an accountant with the Government with over 17 years’ experience and Venezuelans Hover Morillo Ybarbia, 47, and Wilteredo Lopez Vargas, 40.

They were all charged for the importation of 309 kilograms of a controlled drug, cocaine.

The two Venezuelans were also charged for illegal entry to the Virgin Islands.

Simon, who is being represented by Attorney Patrick D. Thompson, pleaded not guilty while Brown through his lawyer Leroy Jones requested to have his plea deferred.

The court heard that local law enforcement authorities were alerted to a go-fast vessel docked alongside a fishing vessel North of St Croix, US Virgin Islands (USVI) on October 27, 2019, resulting in them deploying a team to the North Sound, Virgin Gorda, area. Contact was also made with the US Virgin Islands Coast Guard.

Sometime after, local authorities were alerted of a pursuit that had ensued and the US Coast Guard notified of sighting suspicious packages being dumped from the go-fast vessel. Three spots where the items were allegedly dumped were marked by GPS.

Subsequently, the joint task force retrieved 11 bales of what was suspected to be cocaine from the location marked by GPS.

The find amounted to 276 blocks of cocaine weighing 309kg and carrying a street value of $30.9M.

Dragnet

The VI and USVI authorities then led the vessel into a dragnet as both entities collaborated to limit the suspects’ exit options.

According to the prosecution led by O'Neil Simpson, the vessel failed to stop when signaled to and continued to a beach at North Sound, Virgin Gorda where persons were seen jumping off the vessel and running inland; however, officers of the RVIPF were positioned, which allowed them to immediately apprehend three men. A fourth person was later caught.

The four, who were allegedly apprehended wet and covered with sand, were taken to the grounded vessel on which a search was carried out but nothing illegal was found.

It was revealed that subsequent searches were done at the homes of the two locals. While nothing was found at Simon's home, a money counting machine, vacuum sealer and bags and other suspicious items were found at a Cane Garden Bay property associated to Brown. Brown's Virgin Gorda home was also searched.

Prior to this incident the four had no previous brushes with the law.

The prosecution did not object to bail.

The two locals were ordered to surrender their travel documents and report to the East End Police Station and the Virgin Gorda Police Stations between 6:00pm and 6:00am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

They were not placed on curfew and are to return to court on November 26, 2019.

24 Responses to “Locals granted $500K bail for $30.9M cocaine bust @ VG”

  • Back then (01/11/2019, 06:53) Like (87) Dislike (97) Reply
    Back then when the island boys use to move dope thru the country they helped to build this country up but these new generation boys don’t help do nada but buy chains and live off of greed that’s why y’all will never be successful with your crimes
    • @back then (01/11/2019, 08:04) Like (39) Dislike (4) Reply
      Factttttttssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • Whoa (01/11/2019, 08:11) Like (42) Dislike (1) Reply
      This is the TRUTH. just look at them with their huge chains and designer clothing and shoes. so cool yet so obvious. Will the REAL OG's please stand up!??!!!!
    • wym (01/11/2019, 15:03) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      if they gon take the risk why shouldnt they be allowed to get the reward..... the govt should be building the country not no drug man what is wrong with ya'll
      • @wym U must bYoung (03/11/2019, 11:07) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        Construction activities is what build this country before tourist and FS... Those Husslers back then were building Houses / apartments / office spaces... Do u all know back in the 80s and 90s the bvi was considered the most prosperous place on earth per capita.... Because of the amount of construction work and the Large quantity of import labour, almost everyone had money a good savings....Politician didn't build this place. They failed this place.... This place ESS suppose to be the Dubai of the Caribbean the politicians wasteful spending. Greed and bad investments why we are going back wards and everyone passing us...
  • FEO GOMEZ (01/11/2019, 08:29) Like (16) Dislike (49) Reply
    THese boys were doing the DAMN TING! Keep on pushing! Worth the risk for a life changer! WOOOOOOOW! Support these brothers people because JP MORGAN ship belonging to Jamie Diamond was busted with several TONS earlier in year and not ONE CAUCASIAN PERSON ARRESTED. NOT THE CAPTAIN THE OWNER NOBODY!
  • GG (01/11/2019, 08:45) Like (22) Dislike (13) Reply
    500k bail!! What a complete joke. Bail should have at least been set at 2mil, 1mil cash with 2 signed sureties
  • say no (01/11/2019, 08:57) Like (17) Dislike (3) Reply
    Kids say No! Just say No. it’s not worth it. It’s not worth it. There’s no such positive future with drugs involved.
    • FEO GOMEZ (01/11/2019, 10:46) Like (7) Dislike (18) Reply
      Kids don't be foolish! Pushing or the ARMY! Get a trade? Sure you should.....so you can open your own trade business with the DOPE MONEY. Learning is fundamental kids. Forget the bank loan they are the worst set of criminals walking earth.
  • lol (01/11/2019, 09:23) Like (9) Dislike (26) Reply
    WHERE THERE IS DOPE THERE IS HOPE
  • Da Real Bulldawg (01/11/2019, 09:54) Like (18) Dislike (4) Reply
    SAY NO TO DOPE.
    Its only good for a short while.
    Work three legit jobs if you have to.
  • Real (01/11/2019, 10:22) Like (9) Dislike (16) Reply
    Tola sucks. Life sucks. People tell lies. Only way out is dealing drugs dawgs. I do me you do you. H&M’s/#%
  • musa (01/11/2019, 11:53) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    sad news at lease life up the hill
  • musa (01/11/2019, 12:15) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    how ever u say it up the hill they going
  • Terror (01/11/2019, 12:17) Like (20) Dislike (11) Reply
    I am not saying that I agree with what our boys did, but I do understand. These are desperate, very desperate times in the BVI and illegal activities such as this seems to be the only way you can guarantee there's food on the table. They say Brown is a government employee so that's even worst. Majority of government employees have 2 and 3 jobs just to pay bills and take care of their children.

    • Terror (01/11/2019, 15:13) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
      I blame the goverment for these crimes goin on in the bvi. Bills goin up, grocories getting more expensive and pay stayin the same. Minium wages at resourts and regular jobs .How tf ayo expect ppl to make ends meet.
  • rock (01/11/2019, 12:17) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Tha wud up yow dwl nigga nah broke. Them hoe luv da bling lol
  • W*F (01/11/2019, 14:30) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    I better go get rid of my vacuum sealer. Well look you can’t have a vacuum sealer in your house now. Hahaha
  • Guest (01/11/2019, 14:50) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    They find
    machine to count - check
    Vacuum sealer - check
    Bags for vacuum sealer - check
    Money to be sealed- ??????
    That sounds correct to any of you?
  • my2cents (01/11/2019, 15:49) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    Keep ur head up boys...them Ms outhere talking all kinda f@#k ......but we all know the playing field ain't level in the BVI...I would do the same thing .... most of them business around here start with dope money
  • FreeThemAll (01/11/2019, 22:13) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply

    Ayo mds quick to talk ayo @@#% but put yourself in their life position where times get hard and you have #$&%* bills to pay and children to feed,who *#$%@ vex Deaddd n Rotten ayo Dutty mds! Government POLICEE CUSTOMS ALL AYO CROOKED ##$%&* EATIN THE SAME DOPE TOO!! 

  • Fire flme (02/11/2019, 17:02) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Hear this the goverment playing us like a game our own people cant get jobs these worthless resorts paying slave wage bring down their friends dont do no work and collenting big $$$and laugh at us when we cant make ends meet i dont blame them things in the bvi is overpriced cost of living sky high everything is about money
  • wow (03/11/2019, 06:28) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Look how wrong suddenly become right....only in the BVI


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