Border patrol seizes 75 kilograms of cocaine and assault rifles during raid in St. John

According to court documents, on August 28, shortly before 2 p.m., law enforcement officers spotted a gray Acura RDX approaching the trail to Haulover Bay. About 20 minutes later, a trail camera captured two men walking toward the water. One of them, who appeared to be masked, appeared to be carrying a long gun.

The two men soon appeared on surveillance cameras again as they walked back down the trail, this time carrying three black duffel bags. Shortly afterward, the gray Acura was seen leaving the trailhead.

Agents pursued the vehicle for approximately five minutes as it traveled west on Centerline Road. When it pulled off to the side of the road, officers took the opportunity to corner the vehicle to prevent it from continuing. After approaching the vehicle, agents reportedly discovered two M4 rifles in the bed of the RDX.

‌An initial search of the vehicle also found a handgun on the driver's side floor, a black ski mask on the passenger side, and three black duffel bags on the back seat. The firearms all had magazines and were loaded with appropriate ammunition. The guns were not marked with serial numbers.

‌The driver and passenger were wearing similar clothing to the two men seen on Haulover Bay security cameras minutes earlier. They were identified as Yeral Marrero Reynoso and Ery Rivera Palmer, both citizens of the Dominican Republic. Border Patrol agents could find no evidence that the men were in the area legally.

‌In the travel bags, 61 blocks of a substance that tested positive for cocaine in a field test were found. In total, the blocks weighed 75.95 kilograms, an amount that, according to officials, “does not correspond to the amount for personal use.”

“Mr. Reynoso and Mr. Palmer were arrested and charged with possession of five kilograms or more of cocaine with the intent to resell, conspiracy to possess five kilograms or more of cocaine with the intent to resell, and possession of a firearm by an alien.”

Prosecutors have asked the court not to set bail in this case.