Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Oct 18, 2025

DPP: Contraband found at escapee’s apartment the largest in BVI history

DPP: Contraband found at escapee’s apartment the largest in BVI history

The ‘plethora of contraband’ reportedly found at a Ballast Bay apartment this week is the most that has ever have been seized in the history of the territory, according to Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Tiffany Scatliffe-Esprit.

While the DPP did not publicise the nature or quantity of the contraband in open court, she said the apartment in which the items were found was housing the recently recaptured prison escapee, Jose Almestica.

The court was told that Almestica was staying in the apartment rented for him by Jennifer Smith’s family. Smith, who according to Scatliffe-Esprit is one of Almestica’s many girlfriends, was charged with harbouring an escaped prisoner.

Almestica appeared before the Magistrate’s Court for the charge of escaping lawful custody between September 6 and 10, 2017.

Allegations


The court was told that on December 7, 2021, police officers were tending to a different matter when they saw Almestica at a business place in West End.

The court was informed that police officers recognised Almestica and knew he was wanted for escaping custody. He was arrested after resisting.

The DPP said police officers found an illegal firearm on Almestica which they are still investigating.

The court was informed the police officers went with Almestica to the Ballast Bay apartment where he was staying. While at the apartment, the DPP said Smith was reversing into the residence of Almestica.

She was approached by police officers and she led them to a rock on a dirt patch where she showed the police the key to the apartment. That is when, according to the DPP, police found the contraband. The court was told two other persons were taken into custody regarding the findings and investigators are hoping to capture another 10 in relation to the incident.

Whereabouts allegedly known for years


The prosecution alleged that Smith knew the whereabouts of Almestica for the four years he was on the run and helped to hide him from the authorities despite being aware of his wanted status. The DPP told the court Smith may be charged with more serious offences in relation to the raid once the investigation is concluded.

The prosecution also said Almestica is under investigation for the raid along with other crimes committed in the territory.

No bail application was made on behalf of Almestica as he was convicted of another offence back in October and he will be remanded while he awaits sentencing. The accused also appeared from his jail cell as the court was told he tried to escape custody while in lock up.

Almestica was represented by Ruthilia Maximea and he faces up to seven years if found guilty of escaping custody. The matter was adjourned for February 2, 2022, for a process known as paper committal.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
The Sydney Sweeney and Jeans Storm: “The Outcome Surpassed Our Wildest Dreams”
Erika Kirk Delivers Moving Tribute at White House as Trump Awards Charlie Presidential Medal of Freedom
British Food Influencer ‘Big John’ Detained in Australia After Visa Dispute
ScamBodia: The Chinese Fraud Empire Shielded by Cambodia’s Ruling Elite
French PM Suspends Macron’s Pension Reform Until After 2027 in Bid to Stabilize Government
Orange, Bouygues and Free Make €17 Billion Bid for Drahi’s Altice France Telecom Assets
Dutch Government Seizes Chipmaker After U.S. Presses for Removal of Chinese CEO
Bessent Accuses China of Dragging Down Global Economy Amid New Trade Curbs
U.S. Revokes Visas of Foreign Nationals Who ‘Celebrated’ Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
AI and Cybersecurity at Forefront as GITEX Global 2025 Kicks Off in Dubai
DJI Loses Appeal to Remove Pentagon’s ‘Chinese Military Company’ Label
EU Deploys New Biometric Entry/Exit System: What Non-EU Travelers Must Know
Australian Prime Minister’s Private Number Exposed Through AI Contact Scraper
Ex-Microsoft Engineer Confirms Famous Windows XP Key Was Leaked Corporate License, Not a Hack
China’s lesson for the US: it takes more than chips to win the AI race
Australia Faces Demographic Risk as Fertility Falls to Record Low
California County Reinstates Mask Mandate in Health Facilities as Respiratory Illness Risk Rises
Israel and Hamas Agree to First Phase of Trump-Brokered Gaza Truce, Hostages to Be Freed
French Political Turmoil Elevates Marine Le Pen as Rassemblement National Poised for Power
China Unveils Sweeping Rare Earth Export Controls to Shield ‘National Security’
The Davos Set in Decline: Why the World Economic Forum’s Power Must Be Challenged
France: Less Than a Month After His Appointment, the New French Prime Minister Resigns
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that Hungary will not adopt the euro because the European Union is falling apart.
Sarah Mullally Becomes First Woman Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury
×