A joint operation involving multiple local and international law enforcement agencies has resulted in the arrest of seven individuals and the confiscation of approximately 1,440 kilograms of cocaine—an estimated $144 million in street value.
The sweeping intelligence-led operation was carried out between June 17 and 18 by the Department of Immigration, His Majesty’s Customs, and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), with support from external partners. The effort followed weeks of investigation into suspected drug trafficking within BVI territorial waters, according to officials.
On June 18, officers discovered a crashed vessel off the coast of Virgin Gorda, where packages of cocaine were found scattered in the surrounding area. What followed was a high-risk recovery effort that tested the limits of law enforcement personnel.
“Officers were required to descend approximately 200 feet down steep cliffside terrain to access packages wedged between rocks and reef,” the RVIPF said in a statement. “Several officers sustained injuries during the recovery and were treated on Virgin Gorda and Tortola.”
Given the remote location and condition of the recovered narcotics, authorities—after consultation with the Office of the Governor and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions—opted to destroy the majority of the drugs on-site. The controlled burn was conducted in the presence of independent witnesses unaffiliated with law enforcement and documented through photographs and video footage at critical stages.
Despite the destruction, officials assured that the integrity of the investigation remains intact. “Sufficient evidence, including samples of the narcotics, has been retained for prosecution purposes,” the RVIPF said.
The seven individuals arrested face charges related to drug trafficking and immigration violations. Their identities and nationalities have not yet been released. The investigation remains active.
This operation, spearheaded by the Joint Task Force, underscores ongoing efforts by BVI authorities to crack down on the territory’s use as a transit point for international narcotics trafficking.
