Court hears of massive drug and arms cache during Almestica arrest

A huge cache of weapons, ammunition and drugs was uncovered during the arrest of Jose Almestica at a Ballast Bay residence in 2021, the high court heard this week during his ongoing trial.

Detective Jerome Morris, a trained Scenes of Crime Officer (SOCO), testified that police recovered 14 firearms, over 1,500 rounds of ammunition, and 471 kilograms of cocaine when Almestica was apprehended at Driftwood Spa and later escorted to a house near Stoutt’s Lookout.

“I observed several large black duffle bags stacked on top of each other,” Morris stated, adding that firearms were found in multiple locations throughout the residence. “There was a Glock at the top of the stairs,” he related.

The officer detailed that inside bedroom one, he found “two duffle bags, two camouflage backpacks, and two bags on the floor.” In bedroom two, he observed a “silver-coloured round Glock loaded with an extended magazine.”

Alongside the firearms, investigators found a wallet containing a credit card and a California driver’s licence with a photo resembling Almestica, Morris stated. He also reported finding a black ski mask and laser sights among the weapons.

Three days after the raid, Morris processed the evidence in the police exhibit room. “Four hundred and twenty-six bricks of cocaine, which weighed 471 kilograms, were counted, along with 23 compressed packages of marijuana totaling 28.15 pounds,” he asserted. Fingerprints were lifted from the seized packages and turned over to a fingerprint expert for analysis.

Morris, who previously served in the Jamaican Constabulary and has over eight years’ experience in the BVI, said he swabbed several of the seized items and devices, including phones. He also confirmed swabbing one of the co-defendants, Renee Smith, as part of the evidence gathering.

The court also heard testimony from Woman Detective Constable Sheri-Ann Lavia-Lennon, who confirmed that no firearms or drugs were recovered from the residence of co-accused Jennifer Smith, although phones, electronics and other personal items were seized.

During the trial, another witness, Shaida Ward, testified that she unknowingly signed documents to purchase a blue Mazda vehicle at the request of Renee and Shamal Smith.

“They told me about purchasing a vehicle when they asked me for the favour,” Ward stated while explaining that she was taken to International Motors in Fish Bay, where she signed a Bill of Sale, a receipt, and other registration documents.

Ward admitted she did not read the documents before signing them and later confirmed that the vehicle was registered in her name, although she never drove it. “Shamal Smith got into the vehicle and drove off,” Ward told the court.

Almestica is on trial alongside Jennifer, Renee and Shamal Smith. The prosecution alleges they were all involved in activities related to firearms and narcotics.

The case continues in the high court where Almestica is facing several charges, including possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of explosives, possession of forged currency, possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply, and possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct. He is also accused of escaping lawful custody following the 2017 passage of Hurricane Irma while being held as a remanded inmate in the Balsam Ghut prison.