St Kitts national charged following firearm recovery
Officers from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force executed an intelligence-led search warrant at a Fahie Hill home on Tuesday, 30 December, recovering a Glock pistol, 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition and drugs. A man arrested at the scene, identified by police as Alex Archibald of St Kitts and Nevis, has been formally charged in connection with the seizure. The RVIPF said the operation was part of its wider violence-reduction strategy; investigators continue follow-up enquiries and are urging the public to provide information through established confidential channels.
Officers from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) carried out a search at a residential property in the Fahie Hill area on Tuesday, 30 December, recovering an illegal firearm and other items, and arresting one man at the scene. The RVIPF, in a release reproduced by local outlets, said the operation was intelligence-led and conducted under a search warrant.
During the search officers recovered a Glock firearm and thirty-one rounds of 9mm ammunition. Officers also seized approximately 8.82 grams of marijuana and other items described by police as evidential, according to a report by Guavaberry. The man arrested during the operation has been identified by police as Alex Archibald, a native of St Kitts and Nevis.
Guavaberry reports that Archibald has been formally charged with Keeping an Unlicensed Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Explosives and Possession of a Controlled Drug. He remains in custody as enquiries and follow-up investigations continue. Local residents reported a heavy, armed police presence in the neighbourhood during the search.
One homeowner who spoke to BVI Live said an officer at the scene had suggested they were searching for an escapee, a remark that prompted questions about whether the operation was tied to a separate incident. When asked about that comment, the RVIPF clarified the action was part of its broader violence-reduction strategy and not a response to a single outstanding incident.
The force reiterated that removing firearms and ammunition from the streets is a proactive priority to reduce violent crime, echoing earlier statements published through the Police Information Office and reported by BVI News and Virgin Islands News Online (VINO). Police statements reproduced in local media also noted the prevalence of firearms in serious crime in the Territory.
The release reminded the public that almost all murders over the past 20 years have involved firearms and emphasised the RVIPF’s commitment to tackling illegal weapons and drug-related activity. Vanterpool praised the officers involved for their diligence, commitment and courage, a compliment carried in reports by VINO and BVI News.
The RVIPF said it will continue follow-up enquiries related to the recovery and any connected investigations. Authorities have not released further personal details beyond the name and nationality of the accused. Members of the public with information that could assist ongoing investigations are encouraged to contact the RVIPF Intelligence Unit at 368-9339, call 311, or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 800-8477 (TIPS) or from overseas at 284-800-8477; police have assured that all information will be treated with strict confidence.
For BVI residents the seizure and subsequent charges serve as a reminder of ongoing law-enforcement efforts aimed at reducing armed crime and improving community safety. This article draws on initial on-the-ground accounts provided to BVI Live and on follow-up statements and reporting from Guavaberry, VINO and BVI News.
Primary source: Guavaberry