Law enforcement officials on St. Thomas have seized a half dozen illegal firearms in the last week, including one Tuesday at the Cyril E. King Aiport, according to Government House.
Jahmal Rivera was arrested and charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm as a result of an interagency enforcement operation aimed at curbing the transportation of both unlicensed guns and illegal drugs between the islands, according to Government House.
That brings to six the number of illegal weapons confiscated, and the number of arrests to three, since Friday.
Rivera, 27, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at about 10 a.m. Tuesday. He arrived at the airport on a Seaborne Airlines flight. According to officials, a .45 caliber handgun was found in his bag.
“This initiative was just put in place and has already netted an arrest,” Virgin Islands Port Authority Executive Director Carlton Dowe said.
Dowe said that the law enforcement initiative will continue throughout the carnival season.
“I hope this will be a deterrent to those who believe it is easy to transport illegal weapons between our islands," Dowe said.
According to Government House, illegal weapons confiscated since Friday are:
• A semi-automatic pistol recovered Friday by VIPD Special Operations Bureau officers in an area between Fort Christian and The Professional Building;
• A 9 mm semi-automatic pistol recovered by VIPD forensics officers from the body of Clyde Norford after he was fatally wounded by police on April 26;
• A semi-automatic pistol recovered by both VIPD forensics and Criminal investigators on the night of April 27 at the scene of a shooting in the general vicinity of the Emile Griffith ballpark;
• A .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol recovered by VIPD detectives Monday at the scene of a shooting in the Oswald Harris Court housing community;
• A 9 mm semi-automatic pistol recovered Tuesday by VIPD Special Operations Bureau officers in the area of All Saints School on Commandant Gade;
• A .45 caliber pistol recovered by federal and local agents during Tuesday’s interagency law enforcement operation at the airport.
Law enforcement in territory has been working overtime to make sure the 2014 Carnival on St. Thomas is safe, according to Government House.
The first step of the strategy is to get every available peace officer on the street, Gov. John deJongh Jr. said.
That manpower is not limited to VIPD officers. All licensed peace officers, graduates of the Police Academy, have been called in, including enforcement officers from the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, the V.I. Port Authority and court marshals.
"Many of our officers will not get a good night’s sleep until Sunday evening,” when Carnival draws to a close, the governor said.
Officials have also worked to make sure there’s adequate lighting in all areas frequented by the public.
Police and representatives from the Water and Power Authority toured the Carnival Village area before the event, checking for adequate lighting in all areas that would be traversed by the public. Where lighting was inadequate it was repaired or augmented.
The governor also said police officials continue to monitor and analyze street intelligence that is being gathered almost hourly.
DeJongh said the recent gun seizures show the territory’s strategy has been effective.
"The proactive work of the VIPD in executing the Carnival operations plan is a small part of the overall law enforcement initiative that is in place to heighten police presence and visibility during the Carnival festivities and ensure a good time will be had by all residents and visitors,” he said.
