BVI News

Major trial ahead | At least 16 Crown witnesses to give evidence in ‘$30M cocaine haul’ case

From left: Simon, Browne, Vargas, and Ybarbia. (BVI News photo)

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is gearing up for a major trial at the Magistrate’s Court involving the quartet who were allegedly caught with the $30.9 million worth of cocaine on Virgin Gorda recently.

The trial, which involves local boat captain Nickel Simon, 36-year old government accountant Cryton Browne and Venezuelans Wilferedo Lopez Vargas and Hober Morillo Ybarbia, is expected to see at least 16 witnesses give evidence.

The trial is further expected to last roughly two weeks. It is scheduled to start on March 4.

Three of the accused men pleaded not guilty to the joint charge of importation of a controlled drug when they appeared before Magistrate Ayanna Baptiste DaBreo on Tuesday. The fourth accused, Simon, had pleaded not guilty on a previous occasion.

Meanwhile, the two Venezuelans – Ybarbia and Vargas – have admitted to landing without leave from an Immigration officer.

READ ALLEGATIONS: 276 blocks of cocaine weighing 309 kilograms

Defence attorneys Patrick Thompson and Reynela Rawlins represent Simon, while attorney-at-law Leroy Jones represents Browne, Vargas and Ybarbia.

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4 Comments

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  1. lawyer ron says:

    That was quick…Somebody getting a good/bad xmas gift

  2. islandguy says:

    Want to watch the tourism industry dry up? Allow the BVI to develop a reputation as a drug haven. Watch how sailors avoid St Vincent. Sad, really.

  3. What says:

    Where do you get you figures from @ &100,000 a block as you put it you don’t even get 30 Millon . So Stop inflating the prices. A block/brick is somewhere 8-10,000 dollars

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