Dickson C. Igwe

Anyone engaging in the Virgin Islands community at the most basic level will understand that social networking drives all activity. The youth know who is who in the criminal underworld. Most adults know those perpetuating fear and illegality in the community but fear the consequences to their lives of offering information to the police. The police are part of the community and have their own internal culture that is far from trusted by the wider community.

This Investigator believes that in a country of porous borders, where weapons and drugs are easy to smuggle in, a transparent and very present police force is simply ineffective. In today’s world, secrecy and preemptive action is the way to go. Silence in investigation best protects informants, evidence, and even the criminals themselves who may be working with investigators.

A working scenario. A charismatic Spaniard waltzes into a bar somewhere in the Virgin Islands. This bar is a well-known den of thieves and vicious operators.

He orders a Heineken at the counter. Clearly, from his demeanour and dress, he is an elite from one of the Latin American countries. The men and women in the bar observe the character with interest. He is unusual.

A well- known loudmouth sidles up to the man, clearly trying to impress. The man expresses an interest. They chat away. The man is trained to get as much information using his language and behavioural skills while offering little more than BS.

The Loudmouth is talking without any control. The man suggests they go out to a restaurant as he wants to have a meal with the ‘small-time gangsta.’ At the restaurant, the man reveals he is from one of the leading families in Mexico and enjoys vacationing in the Virgin Islands.

After a motley mixture of drinks, the gangsta has gone bananas. His revelations, although seemingly insane, are part of a narrative the man and his colleagues have been putting together on gun crimes in the Virgin Islands with the intention of getting at the root of the tragedy.

Suddenly the man gets up and says he has to leave. He drops a card and says he will be back in the Virgin Islands in a month and would want to meet with his new friend, the loudmouth.

In fact, the first block in building an entry into the local criminal network has been laid. The Latina is actually a trained spy.