Danny Dennevil, Human Smuggling, Virgin Islands 2024

A brazen human smuggling operation in the US Virgin Islands has led to the detention of a Tortola man pending trial. Danny Dennevil, 34, was charged with illegally bringing aliens to the United States and failure to heave to law enforcement.

According to court documents, on September 25, 2024, at approximately 7 p.m., Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations and United States Coast Guard officers intercepted a vessel crossing the international border from the BVI into United States Territory. The unlit vessel, operated by Dennevil, traveled from Tortola, BVI to Leinster Bay, St. John where it offloaded two individuals on the beach.

Dennevil immediately departed Leinster Bay and headed back towards Tortola. Officers were forced to disable Dennevil’s vessel after he refused to comply with orders to stop the vessel. Thereafter, officers detained Dennevil and two Dominican Republic nationals who were found on the Leinster Bay trail.

Dennevil later admitted to the officers that he smuggled the two Dominican nationals from Tortola to St. John knowing that it was illegal for him to do so. United States Magistrate Allan Teague detained Dennevil and the two Dominican nationals following today’s detention hearing.

This case is being investigated by the United States Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Payne.

United States Attorney Delia L. Smith reminds the public that a complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case against Dennevil is a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of human smuggling operations in the USVI. The public is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

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