Police seize firearms, crack cocaine in Purcell raid

A large quantity of crack cocaine and two guns were part of the large cache of illegal items seized by police during a raid in Purcell Estate last Friday.

Officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) also discovered a large quantity of marijuana and several rounds of ammunition during the planned operation in the vicinity of the basketball court in the community.

Four individuals are now in custody at the Road Town Police Station for interrogation regarding the seized items.

The recent raid is part of a series of actions taken by the RVIPF to combat the surge in gun-related crimes and drug trafficking within the territory.

These efforts come in the wake of a spike in gun crimes reported by the police, including instances where firearms were discharged in public areas, threatening the safety and security of the BVI community.

This police raid follows an alarming incident at the Aladdin jewellery store, where four masked assailants, armed with high-powered weapons, conducted a broad daylight heist, escaping with undisclosed valuables.

Authorities have arrested several people connected to the robbery, though it remains unclear whether any formal charges have been filed.

In the meantime, the police are urging individuals with information about illegal firearm possession to report it confidentially. Residents can do this by calling the Crime Stoppers line at 800-8477 (TIPS) or, if calling from overseas, use 1-284-800-8477 to share the information. Alternatively, persons can contact the RVIPF Intelligence Unit directly at 368-9339 to report such activities.