Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Two caught at sea with $500K, accused men deny knowledge of cash

Two caught at sea with $500K, accused men deny knowledge of cash

Two men who were allegedly caught aboard a vessel with half-million dollars in cash this month have been granted $100,000 bail in the Magistrate’s Court.

Charged with failing to declare monies to Customs is Gerome Nibbs of the BVI and St Vincent national, Zibert Morgan.

Nibbs pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards on Monday while his co-accused deferred answering to the charge until a subsequent court appearance.


Allegations

The court heard that on December 21 this year, the Police Marine Unit was on its way from Road Town in Tortola to Virgin Gorda.

It was during that time that they reportedly noticed a go-fast boat on the southeastern coast of Tortola manoeuvring through the round rock passage and heading towards East End.

The police reportedly stayed behind the vessel and intercepted it sometime later.

It is alleged that the two accused men were the only occupants of the vessel, and when asked the purpose of their trip, Nibbs, who was the captain, said he was testing the vessel.

When they were asked to provide identification, they were reportedly unable to do so. It is also reported that the men said ‘no’ when asked if they had anything to declare.

During a subsequent search of the 34-foot vessel in question, police allegedly found a handheld GPS device and a black duffle bag inside a hatch containing the cash.


It’s not ours

The accused men denied owning the bag or the cash, the court heard.

The men were subsequently taken to the Police Marine Base where financial crime officers were summoned that same afternoon.

The money was then counted in the presence of the accused men. It amounted to $500,000.

The court heard that both accused men were then interviewed. They reportedly insisted that they had no knowledge of the bag or money.


Bail

Hearing no objections from the Crown, bail in the sum of $100,000 was offered to the duo with a cash component of $50,000.

Among their bail conditions, the accused men were ordered to surrender all their travelling documents and report to the Road Town Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 6 am to 12 pm.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to January 30.

Valerie Stevens-Gordon represents Nibbs while Patrick Thompson represents Morgan.

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
×