32-year-old Richard Barronville of Long Bush, Tortola and Khalid Smith, 24, of the United States Virgin Islands, have been charged with Possession of a Prohibited Weapon and Unlawful Possession of Explosives after law enforcement discovered a firearm and ammunition during a vessel inspection near Frenchman’s Cay.
The discovery was made on Thursday, November 14, 2024, shortly after 11:00 a.m., during a routine patrol by the Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Marine Base Joint Task Force, which includes officers from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) and His Majesty’s Customs.
Both men were arrested on the scene and transported to the Road Town Police Station. They are scheduled to appear before the Magistrate’s Court at the next available sitting to answer to the charges.
The RVIPF expressed gratitude to the public for their ongoing support in the fight against illegal firearms and urged anyone with information about such activities to report it confidentially. Crime Stoppers can be contacted at 800-8477 (TIPS) locally or (284) 800-8477 internationally, and the RVIPF Intelligence Unit can be reached at 368-9339.
The police emphasized that all information shared will be treated with the strictest confidentiality, as part of their commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Virgin Islands communities.