Stephen Terrill a freelance journalist working for AFP news agency in Rwanda has been arrested at Bradley International Airport in USA on charges of consuming and trafficking cocaine.
The FBI arrested Terrill and 35 other suspects in an “Operation Vinefield” after a nine-month investigation into cocaine trafficking in Hartford’s north end on a variety of narcotics and firearms charges.
Terrill 39 is a resident of Glastonbury appeared in U.S. District Court Friday for a detention hearing. He will be released on a $100,000 bond and will be on home confinement.
During the hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoff Stone said that investigators monitoring the cell phone conversations of Jaeqwan Sheppard of Hartford on several occasions heard Terrill make arrangements to purchase “eight balls” of crack cocaine.
Stone said agents followed Sheppard out to Terrill’s South Glastonbury home to complete the purchases. Stone said there is no evidence that Terrill was distributing the narcotics elsewhere after the purchases, but rather purchased it for personal use.
U.S. Magistrate Donna Martinez agreed to allow Terrill out on a $100,000 bond, of which $50,000 of it will be cash provided by Robert McCarthy, who described himself as Terrill’s mentor in court.
McCarthy said that Terrill is a freelance journalist reporting on the genocide occurring in African countries such as Rwanda. Terrill has worked for several agencies including Agence France-Presse, the BBC and the Voice of America.
“Steven has flourished in Rwanda and I am quite proud of him but disappointed that he is back here in jail ” McCarthy told Martinez.
Terrill was arrested at Bradley International Airport late Wednesday night by federal authorities as he was returning from his latest trip to Rwanda.
He filed a story on Tuesday from Nkamira, Rwanda detailing the plight of a woman searching for her husband and children who she fears have been victims of the on-going war between soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s army and mutineers — who were until recently rebel soldiers.
All but one of the 36 people indicted has been arrested and presented in federal court. The only person still at large is Rakent Bunkley, 23, of Hartford. Four others are already in state custody.
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