Two Tortola Men Arrested at the Cyril E. King Airport for Allegedly Smuggling 11 Kilograms of Cocaine with the intent to Distribute

St. Thomas, USVI – Jason Frett, 36, and Ashley Warner, 54, both of Tortola, were arrested today on a complaint charging them with possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. Frett and Warner made their initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller and were detained pending further proceedings.

According to the complaint, Frett and Warner were stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Cyril E. King airport after it was discovered that Frett and Warner were attempting to smuggle eleven kilograms of cocaine through the airport to the U.S. mainland in coolers. The white powdery substance discovered inside the coolers, field tested positive for cocaine and weighed approximately 11 kilograms.

If convicted of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, Frett and Warner face a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine of $10,000,000.00.

The case is being investigated Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.