Luis Ramon Sprauve

Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News

Luis Ramon Sprauve

Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News

A year after he was charged, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Office is now ready to prosecute the case against Luis Ramon Sprauve, who is accused of playing a role in the famous 13 year-old drug ring which local and United States authorities pursued.

Sprauve, a self-employed electrician reappeared in court this week, where Prosecutor Valston Graham disclosed that the crown is ready and all their witnesses are available.

A trial date of November 27 was set for the commencement.

Sprauve who has pleaded not guilty to assisting another with retaining the benefits of criminal conduct is represented by Attorney-at-law Corinne George.

According to court records, it is alleged that Sprauve was caught on CCTV security cameras at the Terrance B. Lettsome Airport where he assisted Customs Officer Linda Todman-Huggins to launder money through the Territory on August 7, 2011.

Police investigations of Sunday morning, August 7, 2011 showed suspicious activities were identified in relation to the departure of a private Venezuelan aircraft with tail #YV436T destined for South America.

It alleged that one of the pilots has been identified in relation to the shipment of a large amount of cash from Tortola to South America. The pilot is known to have visited the BVI on numerous occasions in 2010 where $2M left the Territory on each of those trips.

Police reviewed CCTV footage from Sunday, August 7 at the airport where Customs Officer Todman-Huggins went to a small white vehicle which was allegedly driven by Sprauve; and when the vehicle reversed and Sprauve met Todman-Huggins, they retrieved the two suitcases from the vehicle and wheeled them into the Customs and Immigration Hall.

Police stated that the footage has positively identified Sprauve as the driver.

The CCTV footage shows that they took the suitcases near the area of the immigration booth. There, they waited for a few minutes and they were seen handing over the suitcases to another male person who then leaves in the area leading to the tarmac. The male person was the ground staff at the airport who took the suitcases to the tarmac for them to load on the private aircraft which then departed the BVI.

The suitcases contained an unknown amount of money which is alleged to have been arranged between Customs Officer Roberto 'Tico' Harrigan, Todman-Huggins and Sprauve to depart the Territory.

On September 20, Sprauve attended the Road Town Police Station where he was arrested; and during an audio interview he denied taking the suitcases to the airport or meeting Todman-Huggins.

Sprauve was shown the footage, but said he was not the person in the video.

Police then carried out a search at his home where they discovered what they believe to be the shirt that was worn by the person in the video on August 7.

Sprauve remains on bail.