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Operation Gun Dog nets 18 firearms from 24 year-old STT man

Naeem Akil Smith, 24, of St. Thomas, USVI, was arrested and charged with the unlawful possession of 18 firearms, including two assault rifles, at the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, announced United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe on Thursday May 12, 2016. Photo: VI Consortium
VI CONSORTIUM

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St Thomas, USVI - Naeem Akil Smith, 24, of St. Thomas, USVI, was arrested and charged with the unlawful possession of 18 firearms, including two assault rifles, at the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, announced United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe on Thursday May 12, 2016.

Mr. Smith’s arrest resulted from a joint law enforcement operation named “Operation Gun Dog” conducted by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (C.B.P.) led task force during the St. Thomas Carnival season. Mr. Smith made his initial appearance in court on May 5, 2016 before District Court Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller. A detention hearing was held on May 6, 2016 for Mr. Smith where he was ordered to post a $10,000 unsecured bond. Mr. Smith is also required to wear an electronic monitor.

According to the complaint, on April 27, 2016, at the Cyril E. King Airport, a law enforcement K-9 alerted to the presence of firearms inside of luggage checked in Smith’s name. C.B.P. officers examined Mr. Smith’s luggage, which revealed one Taurus pistol, 15 Glock pistols, and two AK-47 assault rifles. His luggage also contained two AK-47 magazines, 36 other pistol magazines with capacities ranging from 9 to 15 rounds, 10 speed loaders, twenty .40 caliber Smith and Wesson rounds, and a storage box.

Under federal law if convicted of unlawful possession of firearms, Smith would face a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Operation Gun Dog was formed by law enforcement officials from CBP, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), United States Marshals Service, Transportation Security Administration, Virgin Islands Port Authority and Virgin Islands Police Department to interdict contraband travelling through the Cyril E. King Airport and deter criminal activity during the St. Thomas Carnival.

This case is being investigated by HSI and ATF. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Delia Smith.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that a complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

12 Responses to “Operation Gun Dog nets 18 firearms from 24 year-old STT man”

  • rock city (12/05/2016, 17:56) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    oh my
  • are we secured? (12/05/2016, 19:42) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    how did he get them past security?
    • yrral (25/06/2018, 20:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Probably TSA workers on the take ,no way would gun.like be allowed without an inside job
  • chad (12/05/2016, 19:42) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Several lives were saved for carnival
  • Real Talk (12/05/2016, 20:52) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    For how tight security out of any airport,domestic or international I see the main land US trapping everyone in the islands
  • rattie (12/05/2016, 23:59) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is ridiculous.
  • Eagle Eye (13/05/2016, 04:38) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    Check him to see if he's employed with the islamic state.
  • SB (13/05/2016, 09:02) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Reading about the arsenal this man brought in got me chicken skinned. REAL. #2ndamendment
  • Well Sah (13/05/2016, 12:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Now we know how many of the guns are coming into the islands. We want to blame everyone else except those rascals that are from around here. Whether it’s the USVI or the BVI, It's our own that are bringing the guns to kill each other. What they failed to mention in this article is that the Flight originated in Atlanta. How did he pass through Atlanta airport with all of those weapons? So I guess we can stop blaming and saying that weapons are coming in through the food containers.
  • Maverick (13/05/2016, 21:19) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The USVI Laws appears to be out of sync, 18 firearms allegedly smuggled and if convicted only 10 years in jail. Manufacturer, sellers and thugs win and victims suffer.
  • yrral (25/06/2018, 20:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Take a bite out of crime,at least he can only be bribe with a toy and Scooby snack


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