NEW YORK: Federal agents investigating tips about people smuggling drugs onto the island took into custody four men who agents say were found at Smuggler’s Cove early Saturday with suitcases containing more than 200 pounds of a substance believed to be cocaine.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration lodged a criminal complaint in U.S. District Court on Monday against Jose Hodge, Gamalier Rohlsen-Arizmendi, Alejandro Marva-Romero and Jesus Burgos-Montanez, charging them with conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of cocaine powder with intent to distribute.
None of the men claimed ownership of the suitcases, which were filled with 87 black, taped, brick-shaped packages, according to an affidavit supporting the criminal complaint filed by Aldemar Santos of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The affidavit said that one of the packages was opened and field-tested positive for cocaine. According to the affidavit, the black taped packages had a combined weight of 99.671 kilograms – more than 219 pounds.
Santos said the DEA has been investigating reports of small boats from St. Croix traveling 60 to 80 nautical miles south, meeting up with boats from South America, to receive cocaine shipments to be smuggled onto St. Croix.
About 9:30 p.m. Friday, the Coast Guard reported seeing two boats rendezvous south of St. Croix, according to the affidavit. One of the two vessels was located at that time about 65 nautical miles south of St. Croix and was heading northward toward the island, the affidavit states.
Federal agents set up surveillance on the island’s South Shore to assist the Coast Guard; however at 1:13 a.m. Saturday, the Coast Guard reported losing sight of the boat near St. Croix, according to the affidavit.
Agents went to check Cramer’s Park Beach, as well as nearby Knights Bay, which is known locally as Smuggler’s Cove.
Hodge was taken into custody near a mini-van at Smuggler’s Cove. Agents walking toward the west end of the Smuggler’s Cove beach heard whistling and came across three men standing near the suitcases, according to the affidavit.
Officers detained one of those men, but two of them ran into the bush, Santos wrote. Officers found one of the men under a tree – but they were unable to locate the other man, according to the affidavit.
