Keilin Lopez Lopez, a man hired to work on the reconstruction of the Cyril E. King Airport, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert annonced in a news release issued Monday.
According to the affidavit filed in this case, at about 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 31, a Virgin Islands Port Authority employee witnessed an adult male tampering with a trashcan in a stall in the men’s restroom inside the Cyril E. King terminal. Officers removed the trashcan from the wall, revealing an open recess in between both sides of the interior wall. One large, brick shaped bundle and one small, brick shaped bundle, which together contained approximately 4.6 kilograms of cocaine, was lying at the bottom of the recess of the trashcan.
The affidavit said airport video surveillance footage showed a male, later identified as Keilin Lopez Lopez, wearing a backpack enter the bathroom where the bundles were discovered. Officers located Lopez, who is an employee for a company contracted to work on the airport remodel.
After being advised of his Miranda rights, Lopez waived them, accordng to the affidavit, and told officials he removed the trashcan from the wall in the restroom stall and placed the bundles inside the wall.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Juan Albino.