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Anegada aircraft & cocaine seizure in August was a US operation- Premier

In August 2023, a large amount of cocaine was reportedly discovered on an aircraft that was grounded at Auguste George Airport on Anegada. Photo: RVIPF
A major drugs bust on August 19, 2023, which resulted in Officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) seizing a Cessna aircraft and over 800 kilograms of cocaine on the sister of Anegada was a U.S Operation according to Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) Photo: HoA/Youtube
A major drugs bust on August 19, 2023, which resulted in Officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) seizing a Cessna aircraft and over 800 kilograms of cocaine on the sister of Anegada was a U.S Operation according to Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) Photo: HoA/Youtube
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- A major drug bust on August 19, 2023, which resulted in Officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) seizing a Cessna aircraft and over 800 kilograms of cocaine on the sister of Anegada was a United States (US) led Operation, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has disclosed.

The Premier’s answer came following a question from Opposition Member Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) regarding the status of the Cessna aircraft following the drug bust. The question was asked at the Tenth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) yesterday, May 2, 2024.

The Premier revealed that the plane is currently at the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island and it will be returned to the US once relevant documentation is completed.

When pressed for more answers on how an operation on [British] Virgin Islands' soil can be a  US  operation, the premier said there is more to it.

VI has MoU with US- Premier

"Perhaps it would be better for the Attorney General's Chambers to speak on that particular matter. From my knowledge, of course, even if you have an operation started in US territory and it ends up in British territory, we have a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States authorities,” he said.

The Premier added, “But of course, we do have laws as it pertains to the criminal conduct and the forfeiture of assets that govern these matters... I'm not sure if there's any reason for us to hold on to a damaged plane in that respect and I'm not sure whether this plane is evidence that's going to be used in a case, but that's the situation as it was presented to me,” he said.

In August 2023, a large amount of cocaine was reportedly discovered on an aircraft that was grounded at Auguste George Airport on Anegada.

The RVIPF had originally said it was a joint operation between US Authorities and RVIPF Officers that resulted in the seizure of the plane and cocaine.

22 Responses to “Anegada aircraft & cocaine seizure in August was a US operation- Premier”

  • l (03/05/2024, 16:27) Like (9) Dislike (31) Reply
    Oh REALLY? Free the Drew...NOW!
    • Really? (03/05/2024, 17:08) Like (49) Dislike (6) Reply
      “Free the Drew Now, Free the Drew” - do you know how ridiculous that sounds? Fahie has been found guilty and convicted of the ultimate abuse of his position against his people. Greed and his complete immersion in the illegal drugs trade has dragged the BVI down in terms of our international reputation. He will get a long sentence of incarceration and perhaps that will finally shut up some of the immature comments on here and elsewhere!
      • lodger (03/05/2024, 17:47) Like (40) Dislike (9) Reply
        These free the drew fanatics are as mad as the maga Trump supporters
        • Not Mad (03/05/2024, 21:37) Like (8) Dislike (5) Reply
          Biden is the mad diaper wearing far left looney, Trump is a patriot and will be great to have the economy back, no wars, low inflation rate, border under control, illegal criminals deported, sanity in universities, no men in women sports, only two genders and low gas, food prices. MAGA, FJB.
    • dpp (05/05/2024, 07:00) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      The advantage of the US dealing with the situation is that it limits the opportunity for our DPP to f*** it up.
  • Cash flow (03/05/2024, 16:31) Like (6) Dislike (9) Reply
    The current Premier can sell it on the street corner.
  • Really ?? (03/05/2024, 17:11) Like (9) Dislike (6) Reply
    If it was signed here then we have the right to sell it and keep the revenue. If the aircraft is "damaged" how was it moved to beef.

    Does this mean that if we have a joint operation with usa and a boat ends up in usvi..we get it back..I think not !

    MAYBE the DEA landed it in anegada when heading to set someone else up for a drug bust ??! Or theCIA had mechanical issues on their latest buy back program and had to land bvi
    • @really?? (03/05/2024, 18:47) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Yes, you do! If it’s evidence in a case here, they absolutely do turn it over to the BVI authorities once proper protocol for doing so has been done. Just like the US will pick up the plane here once the proper protocol for doing so has been done. Not everything is a US vs BVI situation.
  • ausar (03/05/2024, 18:00) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    And with the newest acquisition of Whistling Cay, access to this country has become quite easier, for the Feds!
  • rattie (03/05/2024, 18:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    More show and tell
  • mmhmm (03/05/2024, 19:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    lets see if it cost them as much money and time as it did to evict someone
  • I rather (03/05/2024, 20:01) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    I rather the USA go with every case and evidence cuz yall don't win no cases here and big name family and close friends always seem to get away.. Thank you for takin fat Andrew from USA. That dude was crazy. Huh turn out port into a drug transhipment center
  • Premier is a worm (03/05/2024, 22:22) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    That’s a house slave can’t trust dude
  • Why (03/05/2024, 23:55) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Would the USA or BVI governors office share information with our own institutions when they’ve been proven to be either a party too , complicit with or at the very least averting their eyes from the very criminal enterprises “ drug/human traffickers “ that are being attempted to be apprehended.
  • herbs power (04/05/2024, 02:27) Like (0) Dislike (7) Reply
    America has in the biggest and historic number of criminals, so free the Drew.
  • Maria Louisa Varlack (04/05/2024, 07:38) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    the british virgin islands has been destroyed. people in the british virgin islands need to realize that our lives have been completely destroyed.
  • Maria Louisa Varlack (04/05/2024, 09:38) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    at the age of 20 i came to orlando florida to study at valencia community college with a 12,000 student loan and the entire 12,000 have been destroyed. at the age of 34 i came to sanford florida to study at seminole community college with a 15,000 grant from united nations educational and scientific and cultural organization and the entire 15,000 has been destroyed. i was never able to obtain an associate degree from valencia community college or from semionle community college. i am now 56 years old and now i do not know what to do. i have never had a united states of america permanent resident card. at the age of 44 i tried to obtain a bachelor degree in nursing from the state of university of new york at farmingdale state college in farmingdale long island and i was unable to. i left my birth country the british virgin islands and i came here to the usa legally and lawfully and now my entire life has been completely and utterly destroyed.
  • DEA (04/05/2024, 10:37) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    "the premier said there is more to it"
    There always is! No plane for you
  • Da Plane (04/05/2024, 10:46) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Too Bad, we could have used this plane to cut down on certain politicians travel expenses
  • smh (04/05/2024, 11:55) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply
    The DEA trying set us up.
  • Majestic Life Watch (04/05/2024, 13:40) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    And still no one convicted yet. The business continues.


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