2,169.5 Kilos of Cocaine Seized in St. Croix Drug Bust, Four Arrested

Monday’s report of a major drug bust on St. Croix’s southwest coast has resulted in federal cocaine trafficking charges being laid against four Venezuelan nationals.

Daniel Marval-Navarro, Diesel Carreno-Carreno, Felix Jose-Bermudez and Luis Lugo-Marval have all been charged with conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, after they were captured in the Long Point area.

Documents filed in the District Court of the Virgin Islands on Tuesday indicate that the vessel the four men were on was spotted Sunday night around 11:10 p.m., as Customs and Border Protection agents were conducting aerial surveillance in the waters of St. Croix’s south coast.

Located about 67 nautical miles south of St. Croix, the vessel was heading northwards at about 15 knots. The CBP crew sought assistance from a ship belonging to the British Royal Navy, which was located about 12 miles away from the target vessel. The naval ship launched two small boats in an attempt to intercept the suspicious vessel, but the target began to flee.