Jose Almestica and 3 others slapped with major gun and drug charges
The recently recaptured prison escapee Jose Almestica and the three persons accused of harbouring him have been slapped with several additional charges by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF).
In a press conference today, the Commissioner of Police, Mark Collins said the additional charges were brought against the accused quartet as a result of investigations into the discovery of high powered, illegal, and prohibited weapons, an unprecedented amount of ammunition, a large amount of cash as well as a large number of counterfeit notes, cocaine, and marijuana at the residence of Almestica.
“As a result of this operation conducted by the Major Incident Team, 20 firearms were recovered and confiscated. Of those 20, seven were high-powered, prohibited weapons. In addition, close to five hundred kilos of cocaine [with a street value of nearly $50 million], 5.8 kilos of cannabis, and hundreds of thousands of dollars were seized,” Collins said.
“Yesterday, Mr Almestica was charged with an additional 11 counts of keeping an unlicensed firearm, four counts of keeping a prohibited weapon, one count of carrying an unlicensed firearm, eight counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, and four counts of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply,” the top cop added.
Trio accused of aiding escapee slapped with similar charges
Commissioner Collins also noted Jennifer Smith as well as Renee and Shamal Smith — the three who were charged with harbouring Almestica — had similar charges laid against them.
“They were each charged with 11 counts of keeping an unlicensed firearm, three counts of keeping a prohibited weapon, seven counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, and four counts of possession of a controlled drug with an intent to supply,” Collins stated.
The top cop also said the recapture and arrest of Almestica are substantial to crime-fighting in the Virgin Islands.
“He’s obviously a lead player in the drugs and arms trade, not only in the BVI but also in the USVI where the authorities there are also waiting to interview him. Other charges are pending as the investigation continues. Mr Almestica spent several years traversing the seas between the two territories and law enforcement agencies in both jurisdictions had sought to capture him before he was aware that he was on the radar,” Collins further stated.
Almestica was on the run when he escaped Her Majesty’s Prison at Balsam Ghut in 2017 during the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
He was recaptured on December 7 last year.
The Commissioner said the illegal firearms confiscated during this operation, brought the number of firearms seized in the territory in 2021 to a record 30.
He added that seven of those seized during the period were prohibited weapons. An additional record of 1,650 rounds of ammunition was also seized in 2021.
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“20 firearms were recovered and confiscated. Of those 20, seven were high-powered, prohibited weapons. In addition, close to five hundred kilos of cocaine [with a street value of nearly $50 million], 5.8 kilos of cannabis, and hundreds of thousands of dollars were seized,” ”
“Yesterday, Mr Almestica was charged with an additional 11 counts of keeping an unlicensed firearm, four counts of keeping a prohibited weapon, one count of carrying an unlicensed firearm, eight counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, and four counts of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply,” the top cop added.
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Clearly this guy is not a choir boy…far from it. The gravity of evidence here is jaw dropping.
Seven were high-powered weapons? Who were they going to kill with those?
Five hundred kilos of cocaine [with a street value of nearly $50 million] and 5.8 kilos of cannabis?
That’s a major drug operation there. Well…its hard for me to wrap my little mind around all of that. Those numbers are beyond my comprehension.
He and his accomplices needs to face the music.
Now, while law enforcement has unraveled this den of illicit drug crime, surely there are others dens that has not been discovered to date.
One by one they all need to be taken down and held to account for contributing to the rot of society.
4 of them were AK47s
Why???…Why…??? Why would anyone need those kind of weapons in the BVI? My goodness.
How and when did we get here in the BVI? This is just appalling and scary that there are people living amongst us carrying around these kinds of weapons of mass destruction.
On another note, there was something the top cop stated I failed to comment on in my previous post as it caught my eyes.
Reportedly, “of those 20, seven were high-powered, prohibited weapons.”
I was under the impressions all guns were prohibited in the BVI with few exceptions?
Since when any guns in citizens hands become lawful?
Maybe he misspoke. If he did, he certainly needs to clarify this so that it is clear to the public that no one has a right to carry a gun in the BVI outside of law enforcement and a few exempted individuals.
You ask when? I guess it starts when a leader instructs that a family member be released at the airport when caught red handed.
It’s almost March!
The Firearm Act created the offence of being in possession of prohibited firearms. Yes, possession of unlicensed firearms is one thing, prohibited basically means that those weapons are not allowed in BVI licensed or not.
What is more appalling is that no one new where he was for those 4 years. Yeah right. BVI need to get a conscience.
Love it love it love it! Hop we round up all the rascals and skaliwag for crime against the people! Two killed in west (1 child), TT, myba, paraquita, fish bay, two @josiah bay to name a few killed with high powered/prohibited weapons. Is there a gun trade between usvi and brvi? How many murders btw 2017 and 202?
I hope I do not need to mention this, but I do hope those 7 high power rifles and taken to gun range and test fired and to match and see if any of these bullets matched to any previous murder especially those that was committed with a high power gun.
Most criminals, never figure they would get caught. And those guns could be linked to other crimes committed.
PLEASE COP CHECK AND SEE IF BULLETS FIRED FROM THOSE GUNS MATCH TO ANY OTHER CRIME COMMMITTED.
I am sure the police know how to do their job and run tests on the weapons. A CHILD was gunned down with a high powered weapon….I repeat A CHILD…these demons are heartless, but justice will come.
A child. And still no one in the BVI will come forward and say who did it. Shameful.
The demons are out even disliking the comments, but we all know in the battle with good vs evil, good will always be triumphant.
Investigation ongoing. All a that will will take place
Y’all need search up people house for guns !!!!! I got death threat ! From this girl she have a gun !!!! Natalie is her name ! How to get help
Give the rest of her name and a photo.
No action yet is made here
I send a pic and made an report !!!
Wow and you ain’t took it the police when it happen but on here calling name? Even who she is how much Natalie’s it have here on tola ….. Natalie who?
All using her name but it’s proper her man
God don’t like ugly …. Probably her man Fr fr
Y’all seem smart on this one to clarify I barely have Natalie’s who live up hill sides
Seen you got “threat” did you go to report it ??? Did you see it?
Up to now, the public have not seen a picture of the trio mentioned. Why their picture is being withheld from the public.
Because the Smiths are indigenous BVI people!
So NB, are the Smiths Carib or Arawak?
Had to laugh…
@question, sweetheart there is something called sarcasm. Recognise it when you see it!
Mr Almestica had to have been given assist from persons in one or more areas of immigration,police,elected members of Gov. Transporting and importing by sea and by air,he had to have had help in Tortola. The local barge as opposed to the UK observatory would make sense in facilitating the illicit transports.
But why we have heard the figures except for the cash. Maybe they still counting.
Well,just in time
for the closing bell of the COI.
With the USVI involvement,plenty surprises will be revealed. His home will be in a USA prison indefinitely.
I don’t totally agree with your statement.
I think if one knows the pockets I think one can easily bypass customs and enter the BVI.
So to say that custom would of known I don’t think so.
Note it’s both usvi and BVI been seeking his capture.
My thing is no my the three smiths try and claim that they did not know him to be a criminal I thinks it’s lie.
The fact the all got slack and comfortable, thinking life is sweet. Look now, three young BVI youths possibly spending 20-40 years in prison for someone until very trying to escape custody.
If manage to escape to they the 3 smiths he going look for them.
My youths that fast hustle does look great with that fat knot of cash. But most of the youths either end up dead or jail.
Sadly now a lot of women joining the flight
I think
Thank the COP and the publishing media for not using that awful dreaded photo.
Why is that only Black people are negatively affected when it comes to guns, cocaine and trafficking and the law?
Why are the whites, Arabs and other pales never come in contact with law enforcement, when it is an established fact that Black people are not the head pins nor benefactors from the trade(s)? Why are they living comfortably above the law?
How did u arrive at these conclusions that only blacks face consequences for drug related crimes? That’s ridiculous.
Other races do every day to varying degrees. If blacks are stupid enough to get involved in the illicit drug trade then they have to face the law when and if they get caught.
This is not about race here. This is about criminal activity and wrong doing. These people had a choice to live law abiding lives. They apparently chose to live otherwise. So stop this race crap talk.
All the accused had choices. I don’t think a person of another race had a gun to their heads demanding they possess illegal guns, and sell cocaine and marijuana.
They did so of their own volution hoping to get rich quick darn the consequences. They were not counting on getting caught. Now that they have, they have to be held accountable.
The factual statements put forth were based on indicative realities solely of the BVI, and the wider diaspora.
Further, even though there are some validity to some of your statements, you were quick to jump on the broadness of the comment, knowing full well there is great truth to the claims stated……
Meanwhile, in America for example, whites consume more drugs than Blacks and they seldom receive more than a slap on the wrist where contact is made with the law, while Blacks are sought out, prosecuted and jailed more severely for the same offense. Say that is not so, then go look and study the statistics.
Last, in the BVI and diaspora, those same white and other live, trade and consume equally amounts of drugs, and do so completely exempt from the law.
All evidence says those are the facts….That is fact.
You can talk from January till December about the disparities in punishment between blacks and whites for drug related crimes all you wish, it DOES NOT change the real FACT that these people are alleged to have had in their possession illegal firearms and significant quantities of marijuana and cocaine intended for distribution.
You want to make this about race, and it’s not. Only in your mind. Let us not forget the main culprit absconded prison and has been on the run for 4 long years, and was allegedly being aided and abetted by his co-accused.
You are trying to justify criminal conduct with some bs race argument. As far as I am concerned you are full it!
It would not surprise me if you yourself is not engaged in some criminal activity given your argument that because there is an unequal punishment for white vs blacks somehow I gather it follows that the accused illegal actions is justified.
That’s the argument you are making, and as I said, you are full of it. I would be curious to know your criminal background history as you have sympathy for criminal behavior it appears. Birds of a feather tend to flock together and defend each other.
You need to get yourself of the right mindset when it comes to unlawful conduct before you find yourself on the wrong side of the law.
Friendly advise. Its 2022. A gift to you.
Write, think and respond with what denier capabilities you have, but the truths and facts withstands all deniers and falsehoods.
The truth is, whites and others, in the BVI, enjoy a privilidge life away from the scrutiny of law enforcement. That is obvious that dead people can see so.
The question is then, why is that true, why does the selectivenesss (discrimination) in law enforcement exist?
América is a B**CH NATION. THEY HATE BLACK PEOPLE THERE.
You paranoid
Wait and be patience time will make you swallow these very words.
Don’t be quick to make assumption dear blogger
The plaster the photos of people all over the news sites for less crimes than these, so why the secret.
A child. And still no one in the BVI will come forward and say who did it. Shameful.
Who spoiling the good name of the BVI now – the former governor?
Good name! Good name? Where in this world is there such a thing as good name for any island, country or continents? Great Brittle? Great Brittle! Am sure there were little and middle Brittle.
Lol crazy how people helping criminals lol lol