Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

$30.9M Drug Bust Trial Commences Despite Representation Hurdle

$30.9M Drug Bust Trial Commences Despite Representation Hurdle

Magistrate Jack Husbands ruled that the $30.9 million drug bust matter involving the foursome – Nickel Simon and Cryton Browne and Venezuelans Wilferedo Lopez Vargas and Hober Morillo Ybarbia – proceed to trial, despite the start of the proceedings being marred with issues relating to legal representation.
The men were all jointly charged with Importation of a Controlled Drug and Possession of a Controlled Drug with Intent to Supply of $30.9 Million worth of cocaine into the territory on October 27, 2019.

Notably, the Venezuelan duo was also charged jointly with Illegal Entry.

The first trial was set to run from January 18 to the 20th before Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards.

That was pushed back to this week, from May 17 to the 21st, and the court’s docket was accordingly cleared to facilitate it because the charge of Possession of a Controlled Drug with Intent to Supply was pinned on the accused men in January.

Due to the magistrate being on sick leave and unable to conduct the trial, Magistrate Husbands was assigned the trial.

However, when the matter was called on Monday, May 17, Attorney Leroy Jones who represented the Venezuelans and amicus for defendant, local boat captain Nickel Simon, said there were some issues that he wished to inform the court of relating to legal representation for Simon.

He informed that Simon had retained the law firm, PST Law, and was represented by Patrick Thompson. He said Simon had paid PST Law the requisite funds for him to be legally represented during the proceedings. However, Thompson, is out of the jurisdiction, on an acting Judge appointment, and instead, Attorney Jason Hamilton of St. Kitts was recommended to take over the case.

When Hamilton contacted the Magistrate’s Court on the matter, Jones informed that he was told that even though he was fully vaccinated against the COVID-19, he had to quarantine for 14 days, contrary to the established policies.

He also informed the court that Hamilton’s attempt to comply with the 14-day quarantine rule was unsuccessful, as he could not get a flight to the BVI.

Jones then said, Simon is now left without legal representation in this matter.

His statements were supported by Simon’s address to the court, where he stated that the court replied to his Attorney on May 4, and the only flight he got was on May 7.

“I rather him there in person, and this 14-day quarantine aint making sense,” he said, adding that the BVI laws says one thing, and the court is saying something different.

In response, Crown Counsel Kael London said, PST Law still appears on the record, and an attorney from the law firm should have appeared before the court to explain the issue, as it was their “ethical, legal duty” to do so.

Meanwhile, Attorney Jason Hamilton was summoned via Zoom and told the court that “There seems to have been some miscommunication in this matter.”

He said that there were some things that need to happen in relation to his instructions in the case and said he would be better able to handle the case today, and only appeared on short notice “out of respect for the court.”

Magistrate Husbands stated that the court received correspondence from PST Law attorney Reynela Rawlins that PST Law wants to be removed from the court’s records in this matter.

He pointed that the emails were received at 9.18 am and 9.23 am when court started at 9 am.

He then ruled that Hamilton can appear via zoom, as the option was placed to him as late as last week as the trial cannot be put off any longer.

The trial then got underway, with the first US Coastguard officer Alexia Troise giving her evidence, as there was a high-speed chase that saw collaboration between the BVI and US authorities that led to the charges being filed.

The trial continues tomorrow.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×