Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Local boat captain nabbed in $3M Florida drug bust

Local boat captain nabbed in $3M Florida drug bust

A local boat captain has been arrested in a multi-million dollar drug bust in the United States.
Police said the accused drug smuggler, Wayne Stout Jr, was also a target in an ongoing money-laundering investigation.

According to court filings seen by BVI News, Stout was arrested following a surveillance operation executed by the Department of Homeland Security, which involved another man — Avery Lans.

Reports show that Lans previously served 25 years of a 40-year sentence for second-degree murder in the neighbouring US Virgin Islands (USVI) before receiving a pardon from former USVI Governor John de Jongh after his release.

Investigators said they trailed Stout as he rented a car and took officers to a storage unit in Orlando, Florida before handing over a duffel bag to Lans in the parking lot of a restaurant.

When they followed Lans, he reportedly began driving erratically, which investigators believe was a tactic used to evade pursuit. During this pursuit, Lans reportedly tossed the bag he was given by Stout and it was later discovered to have nearly 12 pounds of cocaine inside.

Officers then obtained a search warrant for the storage facility that was earlier accessed by Stout. There, agents discovered three large coolers containing 109 bricks of suspected cocaine.

Officers said each brick was estimated to weigh at least 1 kilogram and explained that a kilogram of cocaine is worth approximately $30,000.

Both men were later arrested and brought before the court on charges of conspiracy to possess 5 kilos or more of cocaine.

Stout was set to appear before Judge Melissa Damian on June 8 where prosecutors requested that bail be denied.
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
×