42-year-old Eduard Ramirez of Jose Hill was charged following the seizure of approximately 50 kilograms of suspected cocaine during a proactive operation in Long Bush, Tortola, on October 15, 2026. Photo: RVIPF

Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline E. Vanterpool said much of the homicides in the Virgin Islands are linked to the illicit drug trade. Photo: RVIPF/File

The RVIPF, in a press release today, October 16, 2026, disclosed that on Thursday, October 15, 2026, officers conducting searches in the Long Bush area stopped and searched a pickup truck with dark-tinted windows. During the search, officers discovered a quantity of suspected cocaine weighing approximately 50 kilograms.

The sole occupant was identified as 42-year-old Eduard Ramirez of Jose Hill. Ramirez was subsequently charged with Possession of a Controlled Drug and Possession of a Controlled Drug with Intent to Supply. He remains in police custody pending his appearance at the Magistrate’s Court.

Officers commended

The RVIPF said it remains committed to disrupting the importation, distribution, and trafficking of illegal drugs within the Territory. This seizure, according to the RVIPF, underscores the Force’s continued efforts to combat serious and organised crime through proactive policing.

Officers involved in this operation were commended for their dedication and commitment.

Police said this seizure is a significant blow to those who seek to profit from the illicit drug trade, and it demonstrates the RVIPF's continued resolve to combat serious and organised crime through proactive policing.

Acting Commissioner Jacqueline E. Vanterpool stated, “Much of the homicides we have seen in the BVI are linked to the illicit drug trade. I am appealing to the community to work with us to reduce the extent to which our Territory is used as a transhipment point for drug trafficking, because doing so together translates directly into a safer, more peaceful community for us all”.

Members of the public are encouraged to report information relating to criminal activity to the RVIPF Intelligence Unit at 368-9593. All information will be treated with the strictest confidence, police said.