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CoP appeals to public to help rid VI of illegal firearms

- said over 75 firearms & close to 2,100 rounds of ammo seized last year
One of the firearms reportedly confiscated a month ago by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF). Photo: RVIPF
According to Mr Mark Collins in a press release today, October 27, 2022, over 75 firearms and close to 2,100 rounds of ammunition was seized in the last year alone. Photo: Facebook
According to Mr Mark Collins in a press release today, October 27, 2022, over 75 firearms and close to 2,100 rounds of ammunition was seized in the last year alone. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- On the heel of a deadly shooting in East End Friday last, October 21, 2022, Commissioner of Police Mark Collins has appealed to the public for help in ridding the territory of illegal firearms.

He said the RVIPF is keeping the pressure on in removing firearms from the streets and arresting those in possession; however, he stressed that the public’s help is needed to expose illegal ports of entry and firearms distributors.

According to Mr Collins in a press release today, October 27, 2022, over 75 firearms and close to 2,100 rounds of ammunition was seized in the last year alone.

75 firearms & close to 2,100 recovered in 2021

The Commissioner made this observation in light of the shooting last Friday that claimed the lives of two and injured another two.

“This past year alone we seized an excessive number of firearms, many of those are high-powered weapons. All the individuals found in possession of these weapons were arrested. It is, therefore, obvious that these weapons continue to be brought in, not necessarily through our ports of entry but illegal ports and put in the hands of persons who have and will recklessly endanger lives. We can only win this battle if we work together. Our safety and our way of life depends on it,” he said.

Mr Collins noted that just over a month ago, a semi-automatic assault rifle, a Glock pistol and an imitation firearm were confiscated following a series of search warrants carried out on premises in Baughers Bay, Purcell Estate and Great Mountain.

The Commissioner is making an appeal again for persons to come forward and share any information that could stem the tide of firearms entering the Territory.

Persons with information can contact the Intelligence Unit directly at 368-9339.

27 Responses to “CoP appeals to public to help rid VI of illegal firearms”

  • jack (27/10/2022, 14:04) Like (12) Dislike (32) Reply
    We really don’t want to hear from him he has no credibility in the bvi

    Both him and Ranking must go
    • WO (27/10/2022, 18:31) Like (18) Dislike (6) Reply

      Jack your a @$$h***

    • @Jack (27/10/2022, 19:35) Like (12) Dislike (5) Reply
      You need to add the other 3 letters to your name. Your dumb A** don’t even understand what you are saying. Are you one of the ones that sit under a tree talking crap and stretching your necks to see who is passing by in their vehicles?
    • Observer (28/10/2022, 11:07) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
      I add my comment to the others, Jack, this society is not benefitted by the likes of you.
      What if your own children or loved relative or yourself were the next to be caught up in a shooting?
      I thank the Commissioner & Mr. Collins for doing what they can to save people's Lives.
      Don't hinder them with your pointless negativity.
  • Police need to police (27/10/2022, 14:31) Like (11) Dislike (7) Reply
    The citizens sre not the police. You are. Do regular stop and search in every area of the BVI and at any time of day. Remindd the public that there is still an qctive police force. Put your officers on the beat every single day and at every location. Nowhere is safe and no one is exempt, stol every moving vehicle and scooter. Who vex vex

    No other hwad of deoartment cry out to the public to help them do their job. You getting paid to execute. Nobody going rat in BVI because your same officers going inform the criminals as to who yhe informer is and then make people targets.

    Long story short, do what you there to do. Enforce the law, people can't respect who they don't know exist. Be at rhe high school vicinity during morning, change of shift and afternoon ending times.

    These suggestions are free. You're welcome
    • Police need to police (27/10/2022, 15:37) Like (4) Dislike (9) Reply
      Problem is bigger than just one department. Get a special forces team. I pray UK PM Sunak will. It’s way to big and dangerous for the people.
    • c (27/10/2022, 17:46) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply
      Stop and search at random? Where are your freedom rights?
    • Observer (28/10/2022, 11:10) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply
      Citizens are not police, the police are there to help protect citizens. But can you not grasp what an impossible job that is without support? We are all in this together.
      How can you expect to sit back & let others sort it all out without your willing help?
      Its like asking someone to clean your house without bothering to get up out of your chair so they can vacuum underneath it.
    • dsshoe (28/10/2022, 14:00) Like (1) Dislike (5) Reply
      Police can not police themselves and we all know it. Need civilian oversite. Second this started 10 yrs ago when the chiefs son or nephew (17) had a gun and was given probations. That took the BITE out of no guns in the BVI cause an exception was made. (note the exception was allowed by the court judge) so 2 dept's corrupted.
      Cross BVI off tourist lists it's getting to corrupt now even the PM is locked up for money laundering. disgusting.
  • resident (27/10/2022, 15:41) Like (14) Dislike (6) Reply
    the cops need to do their jobs and go and find the guys who actually bringing the guns in, it's not hard many people know who they are, people talk all you have to do is listen and investigate
  • The Nation (27/10/2022, 16:40) Like (16) Dislike (5) Reply
    How about the CoP clean of the police force for the lying, crooked, disrespectful and corrupt police officers and then come to clean the mote out of the public eye.
    • Observer (28/10/2022, 11:11) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
      That is ignorant.
      Mote? We are talking about your son or daughter getting killed in a cross fire.
      SMH
  • WOW (27/10/2022, 18:38) Like (6) Dislike (8) Reply
    All those comment,the public is so ingnorant
  • @ ONLY UNTILL (27/10/2022, 19:27) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    ONE OF THEIRS BITES DA DUST / THATS THE ONLY THING THAT SERMS TO AWAKEN THEIR SENCES AND AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS , THOSE SAME PEOPLE WILL ACT AS IF NEVER HAPPENED / THE PERPETRATORS ARE TREATED LIKE GODS AND WOE UNTO THOSE WHO TRY TO ESPOSE THEM OR TRY BRING THE REAL TRUTH TO THE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY ON LIVE VIDEO SO EVERYONE CAN SEE FOR THEMSELVES
  • It’s a no go (27/10/2022, 19:50) Like (4) Dislike (5) Reply
    The public here is to afraid of their own shadow. You got to bring in the big boys from the military that is equip and trained to shut the whole thing down. My opinion, I have a feeling some type of military is going to land on these shores soon.
  • ... (27/10/2022, 20:38) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
    our problem is the police can not get information for themselves because they can not move in nearly any circle because from to black to white down to the Indian folk, back to Spanish lands and across to the Middle East, church goer, atheist and the tourists too every demographic is smoking weed & many groups feel less safe when the cops are around.

    Then when a cop turns a blind eye or smokes themselves we think they are corrupt but reality is the current “common law” law is nonsense to common sense & scientific evidence.

    When police are legally allowed to act like they are sane members of this Caribbean society and not a part of the “Babylon confusion system” while solving real crimes that is when they will be accepted and respected.

    It’s a shame we can’t get guns off the street or integrate police into society as a consequence of irrational criminalization of one of the most well studied medicinal plants on earth.

    Caribbean people love bush teas of many uncommon types, obviously placing a man in jail for a beneficial plant makes no sense to us. It is one more lie while asking for trust.

    After decades of senseless oppression & class division this is the fruit the system reaps and we all suffer for it with stray bullet incidents becoming more common while police struggle for community information on apprehending the illusive GUN dealers.

    Police should effortlessly be a in-tune part of society for everyone, not be nonsensical adversaries to a large portion

    All these socially engineered problems yet the powers that be can’t see fit to mend & escape the mistakes of American neo-colonial down pressure

    While we limit ourselves America has stolen the reputation for world class cannabis from under our Caribbean & European noses.

    Whatever America wants every country must follow to our own detriment. Have you seen the fatal drug & racist policing problems they face?

    Let’s go another way for goodness sake while it’s possible to turn the ship around.

    Be brave people. It’s only going to get worse if people allow it to continue as “normal” then we’ll be like Mexico or Haiti scared of the gun men kidnapping our families, with no plan, no hope except to cross a border to escape the violence.
  • Joe Frazer (27/10/2022, 21:43) Like (5) Dislike (13) Reply
    Collins needs to go he has disappointed and disgraced the bvi
  • Josiahsbay (27/10/2022, 21:50) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Guns are largely a by-product of the drug trade which is part of the police portfolio.
  • Jay (27/10/2022, 22:45) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
    Mandatory sentencing is the solution. People will think twice about owning a gun knowing they face an automatic 10 years from having it.
    • @jay (28/10/2022, 09:54) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
      Its 5 to 7 years already plus if found with rounds you get more time put on.
  • desa (27/10/2022, 23:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    good. abc
  • We need a coi (28/10/2022, 07:51) Like (9) Dislike (4) Reply
    Collins must go Ranking tell lies
  • Jason (28/10/2022, 12:20) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    use of those same drugs money and offer rewards to people with information leading to the arrest of law breakers
  • Schuups (28/10/2022, 22:47) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
    When your colonizing backside admit to the so-called leaked video to tarnish the Virgin Iskands, then, maybe then. But in the real, GYMS outta ya gi back to the united KKKingdumb
    De ???? is a white man
  • Jason (29/10/2022, 08:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why was a commission of inquiry only cast upon the black leadership of this land

    if the commissioner of the royal virgin islands police force was black with the current crime level in this land so out of control they would have been manner talk about asking for his head

    look a few months ago, high day in the heart of our city murder| the most recent murder was just footsteps from a police station

    what will be done or what steps are being taken by the colonial representative that holds responsibility for law enforcement in this land~ also the border security of this lands

    no one is casting any blame but is painful to see what happens in this land these day| the manner of crime is shocking


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