The Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, USVI. Photo: VI Consortium

According to court documents, officers were conducting routine inspections on baggage coming from the April 2 United Airlines flight from California. A drug-sniffing dog alerted on a suitcase distinctive in its appearance. The large pink suitcase was tagged with the name “Da Blaskesley” and determined to be one of the checked bags belonging to passenger Damian Travis Blaskesley. Customs and Border Patrol officers then searched the suitcase and reportedly found several vacuum-sealed packages inside. They then returned the luggage to the baggage carousel for retrieval.

Intercepted by CBP Officers

After Blaskesley picked up his luggage from baggage claim, he was intercepted by CBP officers and escorted to the secondary inspection area. Once there, the bag was opened, and officers counted twenty black vacuum-sealed bundles with a total weight of 10.1 kilograms. Cut open, the bundles were found to contain a green leafy substance that yielded positive results when field-tested for marijuana.

Blaskesley is said to have admitted to officers that he did not pack the suitcase himself. The suitcase was open in front of him, he reportedly told officers, but he never saw the marijuana. He was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Following his first court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Alan Teauge, Blaskesley was released on an initial unsecured bond of $1000. Following his release from detention, he is required to abide by a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily curfew and subject to location monitoring. A substantive bail hearing is scheduled for Monday.