‘Captain Ron’ jailed after drug sting

ROAD TOWN, Tortola-THE captain of the sailing vessel ‘Captain Ron’ and one of his crew members were remanded to prison yesterday (Jan. 6) after pleading not guilty to cocaine smuggling charges in the Magistrate’s Court.

Captain Ronald Weisel, 58, and Hillary Toussaint, 41, both attested to their innocence on charges of importation of drugs, possession with intent to supply and possession of cocaine stemming from their December 30 arrest.

In a combined operation last Wednesday, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force Marine Unit and the Anti-Drug and Violent Crime Task Force boarded Weisel’s USVI registered vessel just off of Salt Island.

After impounding the boat, K-9 search teams uncovered 56 kilos of cocaine hidden in the rear of the vessel, which has an estimated street value of $5.5 million.

Officials of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) said that they believed the American Weisel and his Dominican counterpart intended to deliver their drug shipment to the United States via the Virgin Islands.

“We are confident that these drugs were intended for the US market and that these individuals are part of a larger network of traffickers who are using the BVI waters to transport their illegal goods. This seizure is a critical disruption of the activities of organized criminals with the Caribbean and Virgin Islands,” Detective Chief Inspector Tom Murray of the Anti-Drug and Violent Crime Task Force said.

The RVIPF praised the bust as a sign that their efforts to prevent drug trafficking in the territory continues to be effective.

Following the pleas of not guilty the case was adjourned until January 14, at which time a specialist’s report will attest to the identity and purity of the seized substance. ~~Adz:Right~~