Crime
$2.84 Million in Marijuana stopped; Drugs found on illegal Haitian boats
Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
#TurksandCaicos, August 22, 2024 – Nearly three million dollars in marijuana was stopped from making it into the Turks and Caicos Islands when the search of illegally landed vessels turned up Cannabis sativa this past Saturday August 17.
Edvin Martin, Commissioner of Police said it was alerts from members of the public and partnership with the TCI Border Force and
TCI Regiment that led to the illicit discovery, which is valued at $2,836,592 million. The drugs were found after searches of three different boats on Friday August 16 and Saturday August 17.
Also found, 56 illegal Haitians.
“Fifteen illegal migrants were detained. Officers conducted searches in the vicinity of the landing site and discovered cannabis sativa with an estimated street value of US$131,660.00,” informed the commissioner in a Sunday press release.
Three children, six women and 32 men were found when two more boats were discovered, already landed at Jones Cay.
“Forty-one illegals – Thirty-two males and six females, inclusive of three minors were detained. Officers also seized cannabis sativa with an estimated street value of US$2,704,932.00.”
Cannabis sativa is the marijuana plant, used recreationally due to its higher levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol ) and images provided by the Royal TCI Police showed bags stuffed to capacity with the marijuana.
This was another chance discovery by authorities. Often officers are heading to these vessels with no idea what they may or may not find. In this case, a fast acting squad got to the millions in marijuana before anyone else did.
Last year, a similar string of drug discoveries were made by TCI Police. In August the figure was just over $840,000 worth of illegal marijuana and cocaine found abandoned in or near the ocean.
“The journey that illegal migrants take across the sea to arrive in the Turks and Caicos Islands is treacherous, which endangers their lives. Additionally, the trafficking of illicit contraband, such as Cannabis, into the Turks and Caicos Islands is an offence with serious penalties. The RTCIPF and its law enforcement partners are resolute in finding the people involved in the smuggling of people and trafficking of illegal drugs and will pursue all leads to bring them to justice.”
This is the largest haul of illegal drugs reported since the start of operations of the TCI Border Force in October last year.
Garfield Ekon
Staff Writer
USA, September 21, 2024 – Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been charged with serious sex offenses from a 14-page indictment, accusing him of racketeering, sex trafficking by force and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Mr. Combs, 54, was arrested on Monday evening, with allegations of running a criminal enterprise from at least 2008 that relied on drugs and violence to force women to “fulfill his sexual desires”, according to prosecutors. A New York federal judge remanded the musician in custody on Tuesday after prosecutors argued he was a “serious flight risk”.
If convicted on all three counts, the rapper and record producer faces a sentence of 15 years up to life in prison. Asked by US Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky how he wished to plead, Mr. Combs stood up and said: “not guilty”.
According to court documents, Mr. Combs “wielded the power” of his status to “lure female victims, to engage in extended sex acts” called “Freak Offs”. During Freak Offs, Combs distributed a variety of controlled substances to victims, in part to keep the victims “obedient and compliant,” the indictment said.
In a news briefing, US prosecutor Damian Williams said officials found firearms, ammunition and more than 1,000 bottles of lubricant during raids on Mr. Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles, about six months ago. Mr. Williams said federal agents also found three semi-automatic rifles with defaced serial numbers, and a drum magazine.
He told reporters that further charges were possible, without offering details.
Mr. Agnifilo, the musician’s lawyer, maintained, “there’s no coercion and no crime.”
“He’s not afraid of the charges,” he said, adding that he believed Mr. Combs was the target of “an unjust prosecution”.
In court documents, federal prosecutors said that Mr. Combs had “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct”.
Prosecutors accuse Mr. Combs of “creating a criminal enterprise” whose members – under his direction – engaged in sex trafficking, forced labour, kidnapping, arson and bribery.
“On numerous occasions”, the documents said, Mr. Combs assaulted women by “striking, punching, dragging, throwing objects at, and kicking them”.
The indictment did not specify how many women were alleged victims.
It also does not accuse Mr. Combs himself of engaging directly in unwanted sexual acts with women.
Last November, his ex-girlfriend, singer Casandra Elizabeth Ventura, filed a civil lawsuit against him that included graphic descriptions of violent abuse.
Sean “Diddy” Combs denied the accusations, but settled the case a day after it was filed.
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