From RCIPS  Mon, Mar 17, 2014 at 10:06 AM

The RCIPS can confirm that it has been in consultation with our US and Puerto Rican colleagues in relation to the arrest of a local businessman on drug related matters.

Original story:

[It has been confirmed] Bryce Gilroy Merren, brother of Randy Merren of Hurley’s Entertainment (Rooster/Z99) has been arrested in Puerto Rico accused of being involved in a major conspiracy since last summer to smuggle as much as 3,000 kilos of cocaine from the US to Cayman and to launder the proceeds through businesses here and a Puerto Rican bank.

Court documents  posted on the Miami-based watchdog website OffshoreAlert, state that Merren was alleged to have entered into a deal with undercover US agents to purchase and smuggle the first batch of 1,000 kilos of cocaine to Cayman by sea following last September’s Florida boat show, with two further transfers planned later.

Further updates will follow.

NOTE:

The only other person identified in the criminal complaint is Juan Garcia Molina Garcia, who is described as an “associate” of Bryce Merren.

See also iNews Briefs related story:

Puerto Rican cops collar dozens in major drug bust

From Caribbean360

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Friday March 14, 2014 – Sixty-three people accused of running a US$10 million drug-trafficking operation in Puerto Rico’s second largest city have been arrested, authorities in the US island territory said on Wednesday.

The suspects are accused of trafficking crack, heroin, cocaine, marijuana and prescription medication in the southern coastal city of Ponce, according to US Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodriguez.

Rodriguez added that the suspects began operating the ring in 2003 at a public housing project.

The arrests were carried out by Puerto Rico police and agents with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with help from other federal and local authorities.

*The same day, in an unrelated case, the FBI announced two arrests involving more than US$7 million worth of cocaine.*

According to FBI spokesman Moises Quinones, one of the suspects had jumped from a boat that authorities detected travelling toward Puerto Rico’s south coast late last year, while the other suspect was one of eight people awaiting the alleged drug shipment at a beach in the island’s southern region.

About 318 kilograms (700 pounds) of cocaine had been found in the boat, the federal agent said.

For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/news/puerto_rico_news/1107279.html?utm_source=Caribbean360+Newsletters&utm_campaign=e0613d70a0-Vol_9_Issue_053_News3_14_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_350247989a-e0613d70a0-39393477#ixzz2w2RrZJxQ