UPDATE: Cop arrested in largest drug bust in BVI history!
Police Commissioner Michael Matthews announced Tuesday, November 10, that the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has seized more than 2,300 kilos of cocaine, the largest such seizure ever in the territory.
The drugs have an estimated value of a quarter-billion dollars and were seized alongside multiple guns while police were executing a search warrant at a property in Balsam Ghut, Tortola on the evening of Friday, November 6.
The drugs were found in a three-yard truck and a Ford Explorer Jeep on the property.
The seizure is the largest ever made by the RVIPF or by a UK police force. It is also the largest seizure ever made in a British Overseas Territory.
In a joint press conference with Governor Augustus Jaspert who has portfolio responsibility for national security, Commissioner Matthews said two persons were arrested — one of whom is a police officer.
They have been identified as 41-year-old police constable, Darren Davis and his 40-year-old brother, Liston Davis. Officer Davis has been a law enforcer for more than 20 years.
Commissioner Matthews said the police were unable to arrest some persons who fled the premises where the drugs were found. He revealed that the drug bust was possible because of many weeks of covert investigations by the security forces.
“We’ve been suspicious for some time about what may be occurring,” Commissioner Matthews said.
However, due to security reasons, the Commissioner said he could not reveal whether information from the public led to the seizure and arrests made on Friday.
But he confirmed that as protocol dictates, the drugs will be destroyed once it has been tested.
“There’s no value in keeping this stuff anywhere and we plan to have it destroyed fairly quickly,” the Commissioner assured.
In the meantime, Commissioner Matthews told members of the media that the RVIPF has sought external assistance from the United Kingdom as they continue investigations. He said more arrests are likely.
The drugs were found in a three-yard truck and a Ford Explorer Jeep on the property.
The seizure is the largest ever made by the RVIPF or by a UK police force. It is also the largest seizure ever made in a British Overseas Territory.
In a joint press conference with Governor Augustus Jaspert who has portfolio responsibility for national security, Commissioner Matthews said two persons were arrested — one of whom is a police officer.
They have been identified as 41-year-old police constable, Darren Davis and his 40-year-old brother, Liston Davis. Officer Davis has been a law enforcer for more than 20 years.
Commissioner Matthews said the police were unable to arrest some persons who fled the premises where the drugs were found. He revealed that the drug bust was possible because of many weeks of covert investigations by the security forces.
“We’ve been suspicious for some time about what may be occurring,” Commissioner Matthews said.
However, due to security reasons, the Commissioner said he could not reveal whether information from the public led to the seizure and arrests made on Friday.
But he confirmed that as protocol dictates, the drugs will be destroyed once it has been tested.
“There’s no value in keeping this stuff anywhere and we plan to have it destroyed fairly quickly,” the Commissioner assured.
In the meantime, Commissioner Matthews told members of the media that the RVIPF has sought external assistance from the United Kingdom as they continue investigations. He said more arrests are likely.