BVI News

Major player in BVI drug trafficking ring sentenced to 10 years

Ruben Reyes, who was labelled a kingpin by US officials, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after he and four others were arrested in a drug bust in November 2020.

Reyes pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and was sentenced on April 12 by Judge Robert Molloy.

He was also mandated to participate in the Inmate Financial Responsibility Program and placed under supervised release for five years following his incarceration. No fine was imposed, but Reyes is required to pay a $100 Special Assessment immediately.

In an interview conducted by the FBI on April 5, 2022, at the US Attorney’s Office in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Reyes shared details of his involvement with individuals connected to the drug trafficking industry in Tortola.

Reyes, originally from the Dominican Republic, described his acquaintance with suspected drug traffickers in the BVI whom he told officials were running a drug operation from a family-owned property on the Eastern End of Tortola.

He described the location as having several buildings along the shoreline with a makeshift marina for boats transporting cocaine to the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Reyes previously operated a mobile car wash business on Tortola and admitted to occasionally assisting in a local drug operation by unloading cocaine and providing transport services but claimed he was not directly involved in the drug trade.

He also described various interactions with individuals who visited the site to transport drugs. After an incident where police seized a vehicle with drugs and documents inside, an alleged drug trafficker attempted to convince Reyes to take responsibility. Reyes said he refused and ultimately fled to the Dominican Republic via St Thomas, aided by another trafficker in the USVI drug network.

During his arrest, Reyes was on a boat he believed was not carrying drugs, a claim countered by his later arrest when the police intercepted the vessel. He expressed unawareness of any drugs thrown overboard when the police approached.

US Coast Guard personnel found seven duffel bags floating in the ocean after they stopped the vessel. The bags contained 187 cellophane-wrapped, brick-shaped packages of cocaine weighing about 433 pounds. Reyes told USVI police at the time he was trying to get to Puerto Rico and that he paid $500 to a boat captain in Tortola to transport him to St John.

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12 Comments

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  1. maria louisa varlack says:

    too bad for the british virgin islands. you bvi islanders politician and law enforcement have allowed nature’s little secret to be come a tax haven a drug haven and a breeding grounds for crime guns and violence. you politician and law makers are ruining the agriculture economy and the tourism economy and the marine environment that sustains human life. you have sacrifice human life for drugs and guns and crime and violence.

    Like 33
    Dislike 5
  2. Local says:

    Look extradition coming again for you all evidence strong witness spill the beans

    Like 7
    Dislike 1
  3. Interesting. says:

    “suspected drug traffickers in the BVI whom he told officials were running a drug operation from a family-owned property on the Eastern End of Tortola.

    He described the location as having several buildings along the shoreline with a makeshift marina for boats transporting cocaine to the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.”
    ————————————————-
    The worst kept secret in the BVI. Who does not know who this guy is implicating here? It’s been common knowledge for decades.

    The question is: When is law enforcement going to act?

    Like 25
    • Tell We says:

      HINT,PLEASE!!!
      Initials?

      Like 2
      Dislike 4
      • Interesting. says:

        “He described the location as having several buildings along the shoreline with a makeshift marina for boats transporting cocaine to the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.”
        ————————————————–
        See description above. All the best. 🙂

        • lol says:

          That could be several places. We just need two letters. Can I buy a vowel Alex?

        • Sammy says:

          Sooner or later when the dung hit the fan,it and them will be outed for the World to know.
          The laws in these BVI should be revised to have the Government confiscate properties including bank accounts and other assets that are the result of moneys from the drug trade and other activities such as human and gun trafficking.

          Maybe the former premier will talk and identify all he knows in exchange for a shortened sentence.

    • @Interesting says:

      We be drying clothes and money! Check the Badge, fool…yep, long time we be brothers bristling in the drug trade.

  4. LMAO says:

    Major player where? Schups!!!!!!!

    Like 7
    Dislike 1
  5. O brother says:

    HIS PROBLEM IS HIS MOUTH CHAT TO MUCH

    Like 1
    Dislike 2
  6. Sammy says:

    Soo was this sentencing done by Puerto Rico ..article is vague regarding the location of the Court that handed down the sentencing and the location of Mr Reyes along with his mugshot a former resident and business owner among we ,sum ah we unsuspecting .,,,a deliberate effort as practiced in these VI in keeping with the obvious practice of maintaining the anonymity of its criminals, their imported bad apples.

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