U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents boarded a Royal Caribbean International cruise liner as it docked in the U.S. Virgin Islands and arrested a California man on suspicion of selling drugs to other passengers.
The Allure of the Seas with 5,400 passengers on board was on a cruise chartered by Atlantis Events Inc., of West Hollywood and had just arrived from the Bahamas. The cruise had been billed as the “world’s largest gay cruise.”
Steven Barry Krumholz, 51, of West Hollywood was arrested after agents found more than 142 ecstasy pills, nearly 3 grams of methamphetamine, a small quantity of ketamine and about $51,000 in cash. According to agents, while waiting for the suspect to return to his cabin, two more passengers came to buy drugs.
According to the CBP one passenger, who was found in possession of narcotics, pointed out to CBP officers the cabin where he purchased the narcotics.
“CBP officers are always vigilant of criminals who try to engage in illicit activities and elude detection,” stated Marcelino Borges, Director of Field Operations for Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.
A cruise passenger, who wished to remain anonymous, wrote on an associated blog, “I’ve been on 13 Atlantis cruises. Friends of mine on ship are reporting one death by falling, multiple people removed at first port for drugs and a several minutes long announcement by the captain about drugs. Amazed RCCL puts up with this.”
Ship owner Royal Caribbean International said it has a zero-tolerance policy on illegal drugs at sea and it cooperated fully with authorities.
