ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers, with the assistance of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, arrested Monday a man attempting to smuggle (19 kilos) of cocaine prior to boarding a flight at the Cyril E. King International Airport scheduled to reach Miami.
found wrapped in foil inside
the checked bag.
On May 20, a TSA Officer contacted CBP Officers after noticing suspicious brick shaped items inside checked baggage.
CBP Officers opened the baggage and found 18 bricks wrapped in tin foil with a powdery substance inside. The substance field-tested positive to the properties of cocaine.
CBP officers escorted Mikhail Munoz, 32, a resident of St. Croix, from the checkpoint to CBP secondary inspection. Mr. Munoz formally declared that the bag was his and claimed responsibility for all of its contents.
US Homeland Security Investigations arrested Mr. Munoz and seized the narcotics for prosecution and investigation.
Mr. Munoz will appear before US Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller facing charges for transportation of a controlled substance.
“Our officer’s work diligently with our partners to detect smuggling attempts,” indicated Todd Bellew, St. Thomas Area Port Director.
Assistant US Attorney Meredith J. Edwards is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Mr. Munoz faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, with a maximum of life.
All defendants are innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
CBP’s mission is to safeguard America’s borders thereby protecting the public from dangerous people and materials while enhancing the Nation’s global economic competitiveness by enabling legitimate trade and travel.