Two friends from Trinidad allegedly attempted to smuggle thousands of dollars of cash out of the territory after a five-day visit.
Rachelle Emrit, 28, was caught with $58,050 strapped to her body, while Alan Burju, 44, was carrying $9,488, according to Crown Counsel Garcia Kelly.
They appeared at Johns Hole Magistrates’ Court before Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards on Friday to have the charges read to them.
Ms. Emrit, a spa therapist, is accused of assisting another to retain benefit of criminal conduct, engaging in smuggling, possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct, and failing to declare money.
Mr. Burju, a self-employed landscaper, is charged with assisting another to retain benefit of criminal conduct and possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct.
According to Mr. Kelly, at about 4:50 p.m. on July 4 the financial crime unit was informed that two people had been caught at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport trying to leave the territory with a “substantial” amount of cash.
A search of their persons revealed that several packages containing bank notes were taped around Ms. Emrit’s waist, back and sides, underneath her clothing, the court heard.
Mr. Kelly told the magistrate that she told an officer: “I have a young child to feed; I did not know I had to declare the money. Things are hard in Trinidad.”
Cash was also found in the short pants that Mr. Burju was wearing under his jeans and in his jeans pocket, the prosecutor said.
The pair arrived in Tortola on June 29 with Ms. Emrit’s 5-year-old stepdaughter and had been staying in the same villa.
Defending Ms. Emrit and Mr. Burju was attorney Stephen Daniels. Theyare scheduled to return to court today.