Gun part found in mail allegedly from
Customs officers at the Road Town Ferry Port recently discovered firearm components hidden inside a parcel, which investigators say was possibly shipped from the US mainland to the U.S. Virgin Islands and then forwarded to the BVI via a local courier. The items — including a slide from a semi-automatic pistol and parts with obliterated serial numbers — were taken by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force as inquiries continue.
Customs officers conducting routine inspections at the Road Town Ferry Port uncovered firearm components hidden inside a parcel last week, BVI News understands. The package’s paperwork described a different item, but a closer inspection revealed a slide — the part that houses a semi-automatic pistol’s firing mechanism — concealed inside a box.
Sources told BVI News that some of the parts had serial numbers deliberately obliterated, complicating efforts to trace their origin. The items were seized on site and handed over to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force for further forensic processing and investigation. Investigators have reportedly traced the parcel’s likely route to a shipment from the United States mainland sent via the United States Postal Service to the U.S.
Virgin Islands, and then transported to the BVI through a local courier company. When questioned by BVI authorities, the local courier reportedly said the sender was not a regular customer, according to our reporting. Authorities have not issued a full public statement while the probe continues; BVI News is relying on customs and law enforcement sources for details at this stage.
The discovery is being treated as part of a wider concern about how gun parts and weapons are entering the territory in small consignments rather than as complete firearms. This finding comes amid a worrying rise in reported crime across the territory. Government data cited by officials shows a 13 percent increase in reported crime between January and July of this year compared with the same period in 2024, with firearm-related incidents among the most serious offences.
In recent months the BVI has seen a string of armed robberies, daylight shootings and high-speed pursuits involving suspected gunmen. Customs and police sources told BVI News that using international parcel routes and intermediary jurisdictions such as the U.S. Virgin Islands can create enforcement challenges.
Shipments routed through hubs may exploit differences in customs procedures and jurisdictional boundaries, making detection harder. Deliberately defaced serial numbers also hamper ballistic tracing and ownership verification. Law-enforcement officials say these tactics allow illegal components to move in smaller, less conspicuous consignments rather than as full weapons, reducing the chance of interception.
The case has renewed calls from some community leaders and security officials for enhanced screening of incoming parcels, closer cooperation with regional partners, and stricter checks on courier services handling international shipments. Residents are reminded to report suspicious packages or deliveries and to remain vigilant.
Anyone with information relevant to this incident is encouraged to contact the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force to assist ongoing inquiries.
Primary source: BVI News