Accused Drug Smuggler Arrested at St. Croix Airport After Allegedly Disabling Court-Ordered Ankle Monitor

ST. CROIX — A man accused of smuggling over 10 kilograms of marijuana into the Virgin Islands had his release conditions revoked after he was found trying to leave the territory with a non-functional ankle monitor.

Shaheel Singh was arrested in September after Customs and Border Protection officials found the marijuana wrapped in vacuum-sealed packages in his luggage. The bags had been checked-in from the San Francisco International Airport in California and tagged all the way through to St. Croix via Miami.

He was charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possession, manufacture or distribution on board an aircraft.

On September 22, Singh appeared before U.S. Magistrate Emile Henderson III, who ordered that he post an unsecured appearance bond of $50,000, and allowed him to return to California once he accepted GPS location monitoring from the probation office.

The next day, the Probation and Pretrial Services Office alerted the court that Singh had apparently removed the battery from his ankle monitor while being transported and left it behind. The device was therefore non-functioning, and authorities could not determine the suspect's whereabouts. The last GPS co-ordinates recorded were outside the Bureau of Corrections. Singh appeared to have absconded, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.  He was found later that day at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport and arrested as he was preparing to board a flight.  READ MORE...https://viconsortium.com/vi-crime/virgin-islands-accused-drug-smuggler-arrested-at-st--croix-airport-after-allegedly-disabling-court-ordered-ankle-monitor