Marvin Forbes, 50, of Orlando, Florida, appeared Monday before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller for an advice of rights hearing after being taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigation at the Cyril E. King Airport Friday.
Forbes was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Magistrate Judge Miller released Forbes on an unsecured $10,000 bond pending formal charges in this case.
According to court records, on Friday, June 19, Forbes arrived at the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas on Spirit Airlines flight No. 1609, which had departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. When the flight arrived, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers conducted screening of all passengers’ checked luggage as they were being removed from the aircraft. During the inspection, a CBP K-9 named “Sherpa” alerted to a dark colored, hard-sided suitcase bearing a Spirit Airlines baggage tag that was assigned to Forbes.
Upon inspection of the Forbes’ suitcase, CBP officers discovered several vacuum sealed packages inside a light green bag. The suitcase was repackaged and later placed on the baggage carousel at the airport. At baggage claim, CBP officers observed Forbes as he removed the suitcase from the baggage carousel. A thorough inspection of Forbes’ suitcase revealed eight vacuum sealed packages, each containing several smaller, individually vacuum sealed packages. A total of 27 vacuum-sealed packages weighing approximately 12.61 kilograms were discovered in Forbes’ luggage.
This case is being investigated by HSI and CBP, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Delia L. Smith.
