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Drug bust: Samuel Sr & Alphonso remanded to prison

- duo appeared before Magistrate Christilyn Benjamin today, August 17, 2022
Pedro Samuel Sr, left, 58, of Diamond Estate, and Reno Alphonso, right, 27, of Fort Hill, who were both charged with possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply, were remanded to prison when they appeared at the Magistrate’s Court today, August 17, 2022. Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Pedro Samuel Sr, 58, of Diamond Estate, and Reno Alphonso, 27, of Fort Hill, who were both charged with possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply, were remanded to prison when they appeared virtually at the Magistrate’s Court today, August 17, 2022.

Officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force Marine Branch had charged the two men after intercepting their boat off Cooper Island and subsequently discovering what is believed to be cocaine on Saturday afternoon, August 13, 2022.

The street value of the controlled drug is said to be $41,946,000.

Men said they were out fishing

According to Crown Counsel Lyn Dailey, when stopped by police the two men said they were out fishing.

When boat was searched 1 canvas bag containing suspected cocaine was found and when another search was made 14 canvas bags also believed to contain cocaine were found in another area of the vessel.

Both men maintained their silence when shown the substances, according to the court.

Meanwhile, Alphonso was also charged with Failure to Comply with Lawful Order Given by Police.

It was mentioned in court today that Alphonso had pleaded guilty to a 'possession of drugs' charge in 2019 when police also intercepted a vessel he was in and was fined 4,500.

Magistrate Benjamin remarked that it seems the defendant has now "graduated" to bigger things, given the quantity of the illegal drugs in this matter.

Bail denied

Both men were then denied bail by Magistrate Benjamin.

Samuel Sr and Alphonso, who will be brought back to court on October 12, 2022, are being represented by Mr Nelson Samuel and Mr Steven R. Daniels.

21 Responses to “Drug bust: Samuel Sr & Alphonso remanded to prison”

  • Learn the right maths (17/08/2022, 15:05) Like (9) Dislike (5) Reply
    Umm why yall keep adding extra zeros?The street value is not 41.9 mill its 4.9 mill. Stop trying to make it sound worst than it is to get a sure conviction from dese stupid easy to fool tola jury
    • Worse/worst (17/08/2022, 17:57) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
      BVIslanders always get it wrong
    • Rubber Duck (18/08/2022, 09:15) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Once again it is the police who make the bust. Every bust in the last few years is the police, mostly under the latest commissioner.

      No busts at all from customs , whose job it really is.

      Why would that be I wonder.

      Who is Government Official 1?
    • the mice (18/08/2022, 09:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      lol inflation did you factor that in
  • Buffalo soldier (17/08/2022, 16:20) Like (28) Dislike (2) Reply
    So let me get this straight two police officer and his brother who was caught in the biggest drug bust in the BVI history get charged for the same crime and were offered bail and now two of them are free till the case is finished while the other one is still in prison because he could not pay the bail money while these two are remanded. Explain that to me and make it make sense. And dont ever say pedro is not from here cause he have all his life here plus he has a BVI and british passport. Not a fly risk. I guess the justice system does pick and choose.
    • chupes (17/08/2022, 17:38) Like (3) Dislike (6) Reply

      u like criminals and favor them thats what happen to u sk**tish self. if u must kno both brothers were remanded to the prison before they get bail. and released because they pay the bail money and they are not a flight risk and has rights to bvi. the teo who gone up now will get chance to post for bail same way. however can be denied there after if deemed flight risk of course not from here and has access to boats to leave.

  • ta ta (17/08/2022, 16:37) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
    Free the weed
  • Daddy turly (17/08/2022, 18:23) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply

    Same #$@^% I’m saying how the system is Double standard Is who you know and who know you what goes for one goes for all.

  • Spanishman (17/08/2022, 18:42) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    I know pedro personally for over 20 years and I am soo sorry that he put himself in this mess. But i am confident that his family will stick together, even more now, and help him thru. that is one thing i have always admire about them. pedro u got caught up and if u’re granted bail, I hope u neva make this mistake again.
    • To spanishman (17/08/2022, 19:14) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
      Lol gotta love how some of you make excuses for criminals....he is a big hardback MAN who made his choice
      • To spanishman (17/08/2022, 19:36) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
        Readin is one ting but can u comprehend? Nowhere did I make an excuse for him. But more-so sharing encouraging words. His actions cannot be undone and again I AM SORRY HE PUT HIMSELF IN THIS MESS (if you did not read that in my first comment above)..u big moron. U people here are so full of hate and jealousy around here that even encouraging words is an issue to u all. I hope u r clean and don’t fall in any situations like him since u want to judge him!
  • Ants (17/08/2022, 20:57) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
    Work for what you want. You all like to much easy money . These things cause to much deaths.Sorry for no one .
    • Hmm (17/08/2022, 22:12) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
      Umm they are working for what they want .. not everybody has to slave for minimum wage it’s different ways to make money n they choose to do that
    • WOW (18/08/2022, 06:54) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      ALL ROOSTER YOUR MOTHER GET I FEEL FOR HER CAT
    • Bull$hit (18/08/2022, 12:34) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Easy money you say? That has got to be the hardest money to obtain with dire consequences! You have the product and money; smuggling logistics; watch your back from your own crew; watch your back from the pohpoh; watch your back from customs; watch your back from coast guard; watch out for the thieves who want to take product or money; watch the '304' you sleeping with from setting you up; and watch out for snitches. Now does all that sound like easy money to you?! Keep doing your cushy 9 to 5 and doan lose any sleep over this so called easy money!
      • @ B$S (19/08/2022, 07:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Sounds like the word of experience. You forgot to tell us how much a smuggler gets paid. If you go with a wholesale mainland price of $ 25K per kilo, and a 10% fee, that works out to a $ 100k payday for the load Samuel and Alfonso were carrying. Most BVI govt workers make arund $ 30K and have to work a year for it, instead of a few days. Can’t call that easy money either.
  • Just saying (18/08/2022, 00:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Drug trade does not pay
  • musa (18/08/2022, 06:08) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who
    Ever do the crime do the time ,...
  • ..... (18/08/2022, 06:56) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply

    nobody dont trust a first timer with that amount of weight so we all know this aint P**** first time...stack your money for rainy days in this game

  • Deport them Spanish people (18/08/2022, 07:43) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Reno have a curse on him. He got caught up with drugs in 2019, had another gun crime before the high Court, now this. And people are out there feeling sorry for him. As for Pedro. These Spanish people does come here with their criminal minds, look at the Jimenez one and the Spanish woman who joined the police force to cover their criminal deeds and the wells dude who stole $80,000 pluses from RTW when he was a cashier.
  • Good comments (19/08/2022, 19:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    .....but some spanish have roots right here. I'm sure Pedro is a good guy to many, I wish him well, vaya con Dios.


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