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US$2M discovered in Pt. Lisas shipment - UPDATE: FBI nabs Trinis in Cocaine link

this is how we do it.......

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby pete » November 7th, 2016, 8:51 am

People who need us for trade do not need cash. US freely flows in and out of the country by bank transfer once it's legitimate. If someone had the money in a bank in the US getting it here would not be a problem. Its definitely not clean money.

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby ADONI » November 7th, 2016, 9:15 am

Expect hog tied bodies in the Gulf soon...

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby Premchand1976 » November 7th, 2016, 9:36 am

Wonder how much of it is counterfeit????? Demand high and supply short.....ideal scenario....just saying

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby Chimera » November 7th, 2016, 11:27 am

pete wrote:People who need us for trade do not need cash. US freely flows in and out of the country by bank transfer once it's legitimate. If someone had the money in a bank in the US getting it here would not be a problem. Its definitely not clean money.



it is a problem if you want to avoid the taxes associated with declaring that amount of cash

in any event, anyone working down at that port?
a padna tell me how things real lock down there since and they inspecting EVERYTHING that has to be cleared

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby Redman » November 7th, 2016, 11:44 am

Taxes based on profit or income.
Any one dealing in that size has the best tax advice.

It eh clean money.

Only reason to bring in usd like dat is cuz you can't get it into the.system outside.
So you bringing in to launder.
Drugs men looking yuh sell at 8 tuh one.
Chinee dem buying all of it at 8.

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby pete » November 7th, 2016, 11:55 am

If they gonna be doing full examination on all containers then there gonna be a huge backlog in the Examination Stations. :\ and just in time for the Christmas rush.

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby wavehunter » November 7th, 2016, 12:34 pm

How come the media aint get hold of the information on who the container destined for ? Private individual or business.........

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby 88sins » November 7th, 2016, 12:58 pm

pete wrote:Hope it will be publicly destroyed.


rats go destroy about 2/3, d rest go be held as evidence & soon after disappear faster than a glass a forres park in a rumshop

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby Chimera » November 7th, 2016, 1:15 pm

Apparently a Clark forge a senior custom officer signature. The security realized that and called police .

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby Redman » November 7th, 2016, 2:57 pm

88sins wrote:
pete wrote:Hope it will be publicly destroyed.


rats go destroy about 2/3, d rest go be held as evidence & soon after disappear faster than a glass a forres park in a rumshop


The day the burn dat publicly...is the day we 2M USD counterfeit dollars go up in smoke...

I eh sure but that might also be against the Federal Reserves Rules or Beurau of Engraving or whoever..

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby Slartibartfast » November 7th, 2016, 2:57 pm

Phone Surgeon wrote:Apparently a Clark forge a senior custom officer signature. The security realized that and called police .

If that clerk get caught his *ss going 5 minutes to midnight. I just waiting for the owner of the cash to say the cash legit and he went in everyday to RBC for the past 54 years withdrawing 100 at a time.

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby pete » November 7th, 2016, 4:28 pm

Best thing is really just seize, catalog and inject into the Treasury. Hope the total doesn't need to be held as evidence and thy could just leave a single $100us as the evidence or something.

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby Chimera » November 7th, 2016, 4:43 pm

Owner could never say it legit. You need to declare anything over a few thousand usd if you bringing it in. You can legally bring in any amount..you just need to declare it. Them cudda suitcase that In over the course of a week

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby pete » November 7th, 2016, 4:54 pm

Anyone know how much you can bring before needing to declare it?

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby Chimera » November 7th, 2016, 5:18 pm

Attached
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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby pete » November 7th, 2016, 5:47 pm

Perfect, thank you very much :)

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby VII » November 11th, 2016, 12:52 am

Doh make smoke!!

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,235665.html

Cops raid businessmen’s home
By Nalinee Seelal Wednesday, November 9 2016

AN UNDISCLOSE D sum of US currency and documents have been seized from a San Fernando businessman who is being questioned by police in connection with the discovery last Friday of close to US$2 million in crocus bags inside a container at the Port of Point Lisas.

Officers of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service along with their colleagues from the Customs and Excise Bureau raided the San Fernando home of the businessman, and the homes of two other businessmen in Malabar and D’Abadie overnight Sunday.

The searches took place between 10 pm on Sunday and 10 am on Monday. A quantity of cash and documents were seized from the home of the San Fernando businessman which police believe may lead to a breakthrough in the investigation.

Nothing was found at the houses in Malabar and D’Abadie.

Sources revealed that the businessman has been questioned but is expected to be taken into custody at a later date. According to well-placed sources, the money and documents seized from the San Fernando businessman were taken to the Customs and Excise Division in Portof- Spain and on Monday those documents were being perused by a team of investigators who are also expected to be assisted by persons from the US Virgin Islands. According to reports, following the discovery of the US$2 million last Friday, officers received information that another container with a similar amount of US currency had arrived in the country last week and was cleared at the Point Lisas port by persons using false documents.

Officers believe the cash recovered last Friday originated from the US Virgin Islands and is part of a major money laundering and drug smuggling operation between operators here and in the American territory. Last Friday, at 3.30 pm, a party of Customs and Excise officers along with the police went to the Port Lisas port where a freight container was identified. Officers searched the container and found hidden among a quantity of plywood, bogus documents and the cash.


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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby baigan » November 11th, 2016, 1:01 am

VII wrote:Doh make smoke!!

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,235665.html

Cops raid businessmen’s home
By Nalinee Seelal Wednesday, November 9 2016

AN UNDISCLOSE D sum of US currency and documents have been seized from a San Fernando businessman who is being questioned by police in connection with the discovery last Friday of close to US$2 million in crocus bags inside a container at the Port of Point Lisas.

Officers of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service along with their colleagues from the Customs and Excise Bureau raided the San Fernando home of the businessman, and the homes of two other businessmen in Malabar and D’Abadie overnight Sunday.

The searches took place between 10 pm on Sunday and 10 am on Monday. A quantity of cash and documents were seized from the home of the San Fernando businessman which police believe may lead to a breakthrough in the investigation.

Nothing was found at the houses in Malabar and D’Abadie.

Sources revealed that the businessman has been questioned but is expected to be taken into custody at a later date. According to well-placed sources, the money and documents seized from the San Fernando businessman were taken to the Customs and Excise Division in Portof- Spain and on Monday those documents were being perused by a team of investigators who are also expected to be assisted by persons from the US Virgin Islands. According to reports, following the discovery of the US$2 million last Friday, officers received information that another container with a similar amount of US currency had arrived in the country last week and was cleared at the Point Lisas port by persons using false documents.

Officers believe the cash recovered last Friday originated from the US Virgin Islands and is part of a major money laundering and drug smuggling operation between operators here and in the American territory. Last Friday, at 3.30 pm, a party of Customs and Excise officers along with the police went to the Port Lisas port where a freight container was identified. Officers searched the container and found hidden among a quantity of plywood, bogus documents and the cash.


Why do I have a feeling I know this San Fernando business man
Ugh
I wouldn't doubt it's the person I have in mind he's always involved in shady stuff, and was arrested several times in stuff like this but no outcome

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby VII » November 11th, 2016, 1:21 am

baigan wrote:
VII wrote:Doh make smoke!!

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,235665.html

Cops raid businessmen’s home
By Nalinee Seelal Wednesday, November 9 2016

AN UNDISCLOSE D sum of US currency and documents have been seized from a San Fernando businessman who is being questioned by police in connection with the discovery last Friday of close to US$2 million in crocus bags inside a container at the Port of Point Lisas.

Officers of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service along with their colleagues from the Customs and Excise Bureau raided the San Fernando home of the businessman, and the homes of two other businessmen in Malabar and D’Abadie overnight Sunday.

The searches took place between 10 pm on Sunday and 10 am on Monday. A quantity of cash and documents were seized from the home of the San Fernando businessman which police believe may lead to a breakthrough in the investigation.

Nothing was found at the houses in Malabar and D’Abadie.

Sources revealed that the businessman has been questioned but is expected to be taken into custody at a later date. According to well-placed sources, the money and documents seized from the San Fernando businessman were taken to the Customs and Excise Division in Portof- Spain and on Monday those documents were being perused by a team of investigators who are also expected to be assisted by persons from the US Virgin Islands. According to reports, following the discovery of the US$2 million last Friday, officers received information that another container with a similar amount of US currency had arrived in the country last week and was cleared at the Point Lisas port by persons using false documents.

Officers believe the cash recovered last Friday originated from the US Virgin Islands and is part of a major money laundering and drug smuggling operation between operators here and in the American territory. Last Friday, at 3.30 pm, a party of Customs and Excise officers along with the police went to the Port Lisas port where a freight container was identified. Officers searched the container and found hidden among a quantity of plywood, bogus documents and the cash.


Why do I have a feeling I know this San Fernando business man
Ugh
I wouldn't doubt it's the person I have in mind he's always involved in shady stuff, and was arrested several times in stuff like this but no outcome


In T&T money alone talks,expect no change in patent corruption and murder,everything has a price and all these 'decent' and 'successful' business people are the main subscribers of this system,our problems are top to bottom,anyone who thinks our problems are some lil ghetto idiots well shame on them,lol..

Who really thinks that it's those lil boys importing brand new assault rifles in containers,they paying like 500-1000 USD and selling for 50,000-60,000 TT ,great margins but them people could never like T&T,shame on them.

The drug money thing may seem attractive and relatively harmless on the surface if pulled off smoothly but that too causes a whole other set of problems by itself,even influences economic and commercial trends.

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US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby baigan » November 11th, 2016, 1:37 am

VII wrote:
baigan wrote:
VII wrote:Doh make smoke!!

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,235665.html

Cops raid businessmen’s home
By Nalinee Seelal Wednesday, November 9 2016

AN UNDISCLOSE D sum of US currency and documents have been seized from a San Fernando businessman who is being questioned by police in connection with the discovery last Friday of close to US$2 million in crocus bags inside a container at the Port of Point Lisas.

Officers of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service along with their colleagues from the Customs and Excise Bureau raided the San Fernando home of the businessman, and the homes of two other businessmen in Malabar and D’Abadie overnight Sunday.

The searches took place between 10 pm on Sunday and 10 am on Monday. A quantity of cash and documents were seized from the home of the San Fernando businessman which police believe may lead to a breakthrough in the investigation.

Nothing was found at the houses in Malabar and D’Abadie.

Sources revealed that the businessman has been questioned but is expected to be taken into custody at a later date. According to well-placed sources, the money and documents seized from the San Fernando businessman were taken to the Customs and Excise Division in Portof- Spain and on Monday those documents were being perused by a team of investigators who are also expected to be assisted by persons from the US Virgin Islands. According to reports, following the discovery of the US$2 million last Friday, officers received information that another container with a similar amount of US currency had arrived in the country last week and was cleared at the Point Lisas port by persons using false documents.

Officers believe the cash recovered last Friday originated from the US Virgin Islands and is part of a major money laundering and drug smuggling operation between operators here and in the American territory. Last Friday, at 3.30 pm, a party of Customs and Excise officers along with the police went to the Port Lisas port where a freight container was identified. Officers searched the container and found hidden among a quantity of plywood, bogus documents and the cash.


Why do I have a feeling I know this San Fernando business man
Ugh
I wouldn't doubt it's the person I have in mind he's always involved in shady stuff, and was arrested several times in stuff like this but no outcome


In T&T money alone talks,expect no change in patent corruption and murder,everything has a price and all these 'decent' and 'successful' business people are the main subscribers of this system,our problems are top to bottom,anyone who thinks our problems are some lil ghetto idiots well shame on them,lol..

Who really thinks that it's those lil boys importing brand new assault rifles in containers,they paying like 500 USD and selling for 50,000 TT ,great margins but them people could never like T&T,shame on them.

The drug money thing may seem attractive and relatively harmless on the surface if pulled off smoothly but that too causes a whole other set of problems by itself,even influences economic and commercial trends.

Yep, exactly and sadly.

There are so many that I know personally that have the brightest smiles and seem like the picture perfect bunch yet are involved in the deepest darkest things :/
They're such scum

I only know one person who was outright and honest about it, he admitted he wasn't a saint and made his choices, a bit older than me but he's a friend since my teen years who's currently serving a 15 year sentence in the U.S because of stuff like this he was involved in, in Mexico. In the end that's exactly what got him arrested too lol being somewhat open about it.

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby VII » November 11th, 2016, 9:29 pm

baigan wrote:
VII wrote:
baigan wrote:
VII wrote:Doh make smoke!!

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,235665.html

Cops raid businessmen’s home
By Nalinee Seelal Wednesday, November 9 2016

AN UNDISCLOSE D sum of US currency and documents have been seized from a San Fernando businessman who is being questioned by police in connection with the discovery last Friday of close to US$2 million in crocus bags inside a container at the Port of Point Lisas.

Officers of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service along with their colleagues from the Customs and Excise Bureau raided the San Fernando home of the businessman, and the homes of two other businessmen in Malabar and D’Abadie overnight Sunday.

The searches took place between 10 pm on Sunday and 10 am on Monday. A quantity of cash and documents were seized from the home of the San Fernando businessman which police believe may lead to a breakthrough in the investigation.

Nothing was found at the houses in Malabar and D’Abadie.

Sources revealed that the businessman has been questioned but is expected to be taken into custody at a later date. According to well-placed sources, the money and documents seized from the San Fernando businessman were taken to the Customs and Excise Division in Portof- Spain and on Monday those documents were being perused by a team of investigators who are also expected to be assisted by persons from the US Virgin Islands. According to reports, following the discovery of the US$2 million last Friday, officers received information that another container with a similar amount of US currency had arrived in the country last week and was cleared at the Point Lisas port by persons using false documents.

Officers believe the cash recovered last Friday originated from the US Virgin Islands and is part of a major money laundering and drug smuggling operation between operators here and in the American territory. Last Friday, at 3.30 pm, a party of Customs and Excise officers along with the police went to the Port Lisas port where a freight container was identified. Officers searched the container and found hidden among a quantity of plywood, bogus documents and the cash.


Why do I have a feeling I know this San Fernando business man
Ugh
I wouldn't doubt it's the person I have in mind he's always involved in shady stuff, and was arrested several times in stuff like this but no outcome


In T&T money alone talks,expect no change in patent corruption and murder,everything has a price and all these 'decent' and 'successful' business people are the main subscribers of this system,our problems are top to bottom,anyone who thinks our problems are some lil ghetto idiots well shame on them,lol..

Who really thinks that it's those lil boys importing brand new assault rifles in containers,they paying like 500 USD and selling for 50,000 TT ,great margins but them people could never like T&T,shame on them.

The drug money thing may seem attractive and relatively harmless on the surface if pulled off smoothly but that too causes a whole other set of problems by itself,even influences economic and commercial trends.

Yep, exactly and sadly.

There are so many that I know personally that have the brightest smiles and seem like the picture perfect bunch yet are involved in the deepest darkest things :/
They're such scum

I only know one person who was outright and honest about it, he admitted he wasn't a saint and made his choices, a bit older than me but he's a friend since my teen years who's currently serving a 15 year sentence in the U.S because of stuff like this he was involved in, in Mexico. In the end that's exactly what got him arrested too lol being somewhat open about it.


I have no problems with genuine wolves,some of my best experiences with brethrens have been with wolves trying to flip the script,but wolves with basic decency and dignity,wolves who wouldn't advantage and even respect and sincerely apologize to simple decent people,my problem are the stinking wolves in sheep clothing who like to spend their money to make people's lives miserable and even pay to have decent people of little means maimed or killed because they felt butt hurt and then pay to intimidate their family etc..those are the stinking wolves I can't stand,to some dey cyar mash ants and the idiots continue to suck them off..that tells us a lot about our society.

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby baigan » November 12th, 2016, 12:28 am

I agree man, too much cruel people hiding out there, acting innocent. Sad what this world and this country has come to :/

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby cherrypopper » November 13th, 2016, 10:15 am

Yuh cyar even launder money in peace now. .

What this place comin to ?

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby greggle71 » November 13th, 2016, 11:18 am

Subscribed for updates

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby shogun » November 13th, 2016, 6:26 pm

^What he said

Have a feeling it's a wasted subscription though

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby Joshie23 » November 13th, 2016, 9:16 pm

shogun wrote:^What he said

Have a feeling it's a wasted subscription though


http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20161110 ... 2001-fraud

Check back in 15 years...you never know..

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby supercharged turbo » November 13th, 2016, 10:29 pm

Rumor is that the shipment was for a certain wholesale hardware in Marabella

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Re: US $2 million discovered in shipment at Pt. Lisas

Postby shake d livin wake d dead » November 14th, 2016, 8:30 am

so allyuh aint realise is kamla et al was bringing back they usd before the fatca thing pass or wah..

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COCAINE LINK IN US$2M PORT FIND - FBI nabs Trinis

Postby Duane 3NE 2NR » December 2nd, 2016, 12:09 am

Published on Dec 1, 2016, 9:30 pm AST
By Mark Bassant
CCN Senior Multimedia Investigative Journalist


TWO Trinidad and Tobago nationals are behind bars in Florida, USA, on charges of intention to distribute cocaine after the United States-based Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) cracked what it says is a drug- and money-laundering ring with ties to a Trinidadian contractor.

Image
cocaine bust: Bags of cocaine seized by the US Coast Guard aboard a vessel in which three Trinidadians were held in July this year. The drug haul was photographed by the US Coast Guard.

Sources in Trinidad and Tobago intelligence agencies and customs officials have confirmed the FBI's drug seizure is linked to the US$2 million found concealed in plyboard shipped to this country last month.

Image
Neil Jason Merritt of Santa Cruz and Beon “Bobby” Phillip of Petit Valley were on board a yacht called Buff in the Caribbean Sea bound for Florida, allegedly with an estimated 150 kilogrammes of cocaine.

The drugs had an estimated street value of US$5 million (about TT$34 million).

On July 1, US Coast Guard and Navy officers intercepted the yacht and arrested Merritt and Phillip.

A third Trinidadian who was loading the cocaine into a dinghy has been co-operating with the FBI.

US law enforcement called the sting “Operation Unified Resolve” following a two-week investigation.

Public information officer for the FBI's Tampa, Florida division, Andrea Aprea, responded to e-mails from the Express last week confirming the arrests, saying Merritt and Phillip were “arrested on July 1, 2016 aboard a sailing vessel in the Eastern Caribbean. They were indicted July 12 in the US District Court Middle District of Florida on two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. They are currently being held at the Pinellas County Jail.”

They are awaiting trial.

They face between 15 to 25 years in jail under Florida State law if found guilty.

Asked further for information about the drug seizure, Aprea indicated only: “It is an ongoing investigation.”

She said she was barred from divulging further information.

The Express, however, understands US authorities are seeking assistance from local law enforcement as part of a “wider investigation”.

Link to US$2m in plyboard



Local law enforcement told the Express they had information which suggested the US drug seizure in July was “deeply connected” to the US$2 million in currency stuffed in a shipment of plywood uncovered at the Pt Lisas Port last month.

Intelligence sources said the money was sent here for a contractor in northeast Trinidad, whom they allege has customs officials, police officers, criminal figures and other businessmen on his payroll.

Intelligence sources said the local contractor maintains close ties to a government official and previously sought business advice from him.

Sources said Merritt and Phillip set sail aboard the yacht in late June, allegedly to deliver the cocaine shipment along with a third Trinidadian, whose identity the FBI did not release.

“The drugs were stored in crocus bags which they had taken photographs of and sent back to the contractor and other people who assisted in the operation here,” one source told the Express.

The US Coast Guard also photographed the drug stash upon seizure and later tagged the evidence in garbage bags.

Sources say the local contractor, who has drug connections in the US Virgin islands and a cellphone number there, had help from a relative in the US to pay $1 million to ensure the vessel sailed undetected into US waters.

The plan, sources said, was that once the cocaine got to Florida, the contractor's relative would arrange the sale of the illegal product.

One intelligence source told the Express the contractor took the drugs on consignment from a Venezuelan drug lord whose man of business is based in South Trinidad.

The Venezuelan drug lord has been asking for payment since the shipment was confiscated in July.

The contractor has been avoiding people who come to his office and has stopped driving his luxury Range Rover vehicles.

Instead, to keep a low profile, he has been driving his girlfriend's SUV or a borrowed vehicle from another contractor.

“People need to get the US$5 million they are owed by the contractor,” one senior intelligence police source explained.

How the money was hidden



When the US$2 million was discovered at the Point Lisas Port on November 4, port operator Plipdeco stated the money was concealed beneath plyboard inside a cargo container.

The Express was allowed to read documents which seem to contradict how the money was concealed and where it was found.

A shipping document indicated the plyboard arrived aboard a foreign vessel and was on a flatbed trailer—a piece of equipment with no sides or roof.

The shipment, according to the document, was destined for a fictitious company with a name that bears a close resemblance to a hardware store chain in Trinidad.

The document had the name of a road in South Trinidad which does not exist, as well as a fake telephone number.

The Express contacted the owner of the hardware company who confirmed he had been contacted by his shipping agents about the US$2 million find.

He said: “I told them that (the fictitious company's name) is not part of my company and my company is registered (by another name).”

He said as far as he could determine, “the company was a fake and someone was using it as a front to conduct illegal business”.

So how did drug smugglers conceal the US currency? And who was the money destined for?

A customs source close to the investigation told the Express: “What they did was they cut out holes in the middle of several of the plywood sheets and placed those sheets in the middle of the stack. A safe with the money was then dropped into the hole and then covered with several other sheets of plywood to conceal it.”

The origin of the money, the source told the Express, was the US Virgin Islands.

Three port workers who spoke to the Express on condition of strict anonymity claimed the day before the shipment arrived, some of them received phone calls to stay away from work the next day.

Law enforcement sources said the money was to be transported to Venezuela as part payment to the drug lord for the cocaine shipment intercepted by US authorities.

But an informant familiar with the arrangements of the local contractor and his cohorts “might have ratted him out after he had been cut from the initial cocaine shipment deal”, a source pointed out.

This informant previously provided transport for other drug shipments to North America and the Caribbean which the local contractor organised using his business as a cover, sources said.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20161201/news/n-us2m-in-plywood-and-cocaine-link-uncovered-two-trinis-held-in-us

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cinco
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Re: COCAINE LINK IN US$2M PORT FIND - FBI nabs Trinis

Postby cinco » December 2nd, 2016, 12:18 am

So no names calling?

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