Australian caught travelling through BVI airport with over $100K cash, court hears
A 64-year-old Australian who claimed he was heading to Antigua to purchase a yacht with multiple currencies totalling the equivalent of US $107,005.24 is facing criminal charges after he failed to declare the monies to local authorities.
Warwick James Reid, a retired real estate broker currently residing in Indonesia, is charged with ‘untrue declaration’ and ‘failing to declare monies’.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared before Magistrate Ayanna Baptiste-DaBreo on Tuesday, September 3.
Allegations
The court heard that Reid was an in-transit passenger travelling from Indonesia to Antigua.
He flew into the territory via the TB Lettsome International Airport from Puerto Rico on August 30, which was around the time the territory was bouncing back from Hurricane Dorian.
Upon his arrival, he reportedly filled out the Customs Declaration Form and allegedly denied having more than US$10,000 or its equivalent in his possession.
The court further heard that he was unable to continue on his travels the same day due to the inclement weather and had to overnight in the territory as a result.
While attempting to leave the following day, his belongings were rejected as it passed through the territory’s security checkpoint scanner.
A physical search of his bag was subsequently conducted. During that time, he allegedly informed customs officers that he was carrying a large quantity of cash.
The court heard that after he failed to produce the proper documentation for the cash which was said to be in several bundles, he was taken to a private room and questioned.
Prosecutors alleged that the accused then explained that he did not declare the funds because he was an in-transit passenger when he arrived at the Beef Island-based airport.
He was subsequently arrested and charged.
Multiple currencies
Prosecutors said the money which amounted to US$107,005.24 was in seven different currencies.
He allegedly had €96,700, $237,000 in Indonesian currency, $1,075 in Australian currency, $3270 in Thailand currency, $332 in Malaysian currency, $40 United Arab Emirates currency and $38 in Singapore currency.
During a cautioned interview with police, Reid reportedly said he declared the funds in every stop along his journey including in Texas in the United States.
He, therefore, said he did not see the need to declare it in the British Virgin Islands because he was in transit.
No Bail
Despite his attorney Leroy Jones’ attempt to secure his bail, the court ruled that Reid was not a suitable candidate.
Jones argued that his client cooperated with the authorities, he is not a threat, and he had no previous conviction in the territory.
However, the Crown objected, arguing that he had no status in the territory, has no ties, no permanent place of abode, and can be a flight risk.
Magistrate DaBreo ruled that his trial will commence on Monday, September 9 and accepted the Crown’s application for the said funds to be detained for investigations.
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How the heck he passed through US (Puerto Rico) waters with that? And did he fly straight from Indonesia to PR
He white so them wont check he out like that
He said he declared them there. Read.
Claimed he declared it in every stop
Can’t you read? It says he stopped in Texas.
He claims he declared it in the US.
Return the man money….
Is it true that you can be locked up in jail for more than one week for failing to take enough care when filling out a form on entering a country that you planned to be in for less than an hour at the time of completing the form?! I find this very troubling. Especially when the consequence of such a “crime” is potentially a monetary penalty.
Struth mate. That can’t be fair dinkum! Can it? What’s the bloody John Dory with that? I hope they leave your Bradmans alone. What a s**t show. She’ll be right – I hope!!
Crikey. What a shemozzle. That’s all gone pear shaped. Blind Freddy could tell ya there’s nothing to see here. Lucky he hasn’t snapped the carrot. For F sake, just get on and give the bloke a fair suck of the sauce bottle. Shouldn’t be that hard. Blimey.
They just looking to take the man money. I am sure if he cleared it in the US and Texas, that can be proved.
I suspect they meant the Texas in the US rather than the fictitious Texas in your mind.
He probably doesn’t know that Texas is in the US.Just like “Hmmmmmm” doesn’t realize you don’t fly through water in PR to get here.
Give the man back his money before the rest of the world take us for asses…The man traveled thru sensible securities before he got here…He should sue ayo behind after he wins his case
So who has declared that this man is speaking the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? If somebody comes in the Territory now amd say they got $17,000 US which was declared in Alabama, are we suppose to let every such person go without due diligence?? At least his story SHOULD be investigated. I am sick of all these peddlers passing through bout they going to purchase yachts.
Are you sick of all these bvislanders with super fast speedboats with names like c****M*I*Y**C** and O****W and such? You know. The ones with giant amounts of cash they build buildings and businesses and buy horses with and become respected members of the community? Are you good with bvislanders being in-your-face criminals from top level down to boys on the block not even looking a job because they know they good for life – and yet you all get all hung up this mans due diligence, etc etc.
Set of hypocrite.
Australia will blacklist the BVI now
If he declared it in passing through USA which is easily determined then why is this an issue??
We must let custom do there work wrong is wrong where the money come from
What it have to do with you where the man money came from, some aryo act like is we tolians alone got money, too like to be in sauce
it came from his bank account – it is his savings.
If the man is honest about declaring the funds at the other destinations then perhaps its an honest mistake. Seems like a waste of court time as all they would have to do is verify the declaration with the other authorities.
He was in transit to his final destination. He was not planning on staying in the BVI, hence no need to declare whatever was in his possession. He didn’t have to declare nada to the authorities. Only because of the hurricane he was unable to continue on his journey to his final destination where he would have declared what he had to declare.
So this man will be on remand, fed at taxpayer’s expense for something that can be easily verified and send him on his way?
He didn’t declared it here, that’s the issue at hand. Where he declared it before arriving here has nothing to do with it. He should have declared it to avoid loosing it now, after reaching so far.
He. Was. In. Transit.
So he didn’t have to declare his money.
Then an act of God cancelled his planned exit.
Deliberately ignoring the key point makes you/us wilfully nasty.
Leave the man and he money alone.
Hmmm, that’s the way you saw it?
If he was cleared in Texas, then he was fine. In the US you are allowed to clear $10.000. and you have to have a declaration form. Anything over $10.000,they will seize the over amount. He was cleared in Texas,he is fine.
You can take as much as you like through both the US and BVI as long as you declare it.They will only grab it if you don’t declare.
govmts are d most thief in history
We are not in Texas.
lol
given the man back him money. gov thief all the now u all want the man own
Crown gone with that. Watch you see.
govrmnts are d biggest theives in history
He knew he wasn’t supposed to be carrying that amount of cash,so he lied and he he has to pay.
Notice the man had no US currency which is our local currency, so technically he did not have over or near $10,000 US dollars.
Poor representation. Very very poor advocacy.
Surely, you don’t declare this when in transit? That’s the status he expected and planned on. He didn’t spend the money here. What does it have to do with the BVI? And, by the way, it is not illegal to carry large sums.
Don’t see why all the fuss, this guy never expected nor planned to stop in the BVI.once it can be proven that he declared his money at the start of his journey then let him go on his way and stop making a mountain out of a mold hill.
I feel for this poor old man. I am wondering how he managed to choose the d*****t lawyer in the VI.Did someone advise him or is pro bono? This lawyer came to r** his m***h to we at the prison. I will serve my time dude.
I understand that when he missed his flight out of Tortola (arrival delayed due to hurricane) he slept at the airport so that he “remained in transit”. He intended to catch the first flight out the next morning. Instead he’s been locked up in prison for more than a week and having to attend Court and pay large legal bills. How does any of this make sense? – surely Customs could have simply sorted this out??
Tola customs to darn JEPS always sticking their noses in the wrong biz like dem old dirty K-9es set a thieves up deh if a open me mouth on dat Mr.Up there de whole place a go be in shock
And this is why crypto currencies will end up being the default.
The issue, is, why did he lie in the first place, why wasn’t he honest in declaring the money?
This is the age of modern technology. Wake up people, before you get left behind in your ignorance and archaic thinking.