St. Thomas, USVI - On Friday, September 15, 2023, at approximately 5:30 p.m., officers along with the Special Operations Bureau officers were conducting traffic enforcement in the area of the Legislature bus stop on Alton Adams Drive, when officers observed a gray Toyota 4-Runner traversing westward with a fully tinted windshield passing the AS1 line. The driver, later identified as Mr. Maulique Caines, was signaled to pull over to the side of the road.

Maulique Caines

As the officer approached the vehicle, a strong odor of marijuana emanated from the vehicle. Mr. Caines was asked if he smoked marijuana and he admitted that he smoked marijuana earlier in the day. He was then advised of the marijuana laws in the Virgin Islands.

A search of the vehicle was conducted, resulting in the discovery of a significant amount of a white rock like substance which later field tested positive for crack cocaine, several bags of edible marijuana candy, and green leafy substance, that later tested positive for marijuana. Drug paraphernalia was also found in the vehicle during the search.

Mr. Caines, 27-years-old, was cited for excessive front windshield tin passing the AS1 line. He was advised of his rights, booked and processed. Mr. Caines was charged with Possession of Narcotics with the intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana with the intent to Distribute, Possession of Illegal Narcotics with the Intent to Distribute within one thousand feet of a church (Living Word Family Ministries Church), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bail was set at $15,000.00 by order of the Court. Mr. Caines was turned over to the Bureau of Corrections pending his Advice of Rights Hearing.

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All individuals listed as arrested or charged with a crime in this press release are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.