FEDS CATCH UP TO CULEBRA CREW ON JET SKIS WITH 57 POUNDS OF COCAINE

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Federal authorities tracked down cocaine smugglers from Culebra with 57 pounds of cocaine being moved from Puerto Rico to St. Thomas on jet skis.

Eight men were arrested Saturday in St. Thomas for allegedly smuggling 26 kilograms of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said.

On December 11, 2021 Wilfredo Vazquez Lopez, Jonathan Fernandez Montesino, Esteban Borrome Diaz, Smarling Villilo De Los Santo, Emmanuel Rodriguez Rodriguez, Jose Martes Gozalez, Guillermo Morales and Ben Carrasquillosanto, had their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge George Cannon, Jr. on criminal charges related to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

According to court documents, on December 11, 2021 at approximately 9:00 a.m., U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) air patrol detected four jet skis traveling from Culebra, Puerto Rico towards St. Thomas, USVI. CBP-AMO air patrol surveilled the jet skis, each operated by a sole occupant, as they approached the west side of St. Thomas.

Air patrol watched as the skis made way to the beach at Mermaid’s Chair where they were met by four individuals in a red Jeep Wrangler. CBP-AMO officers saw duffle bags being loaded on to the skis, and the skis quickly leaving towards Culebra, PR. CBP-AMO law enforcement vessels pursued the four jet skis towards Culebra, Puerto Rico.

One driver drove his ski on to a Culebra, Puerto Rico beach and fled on foot. He escaped capture. A duffle bag was recovered near the abandoned ski. Inside the duffle bag, officers recovered 26 packages which contained a substance that field-tested positive for the presence of cocaine.