A police officer is one of two people arrested during a drug bust in the British Virgin Islands earlier this week.
Commissioner of Police Michael Matthews, said on November 6, officers attached to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force seized more than 2,300 kilos of cocaine while executing a search warrant at a property in Balsam Ghut, Tortola.
The drugs, which according to Matthews is valued at almost a quarter of a billion dollars, were found in a three-yeard truck and a Ford Explorer parked on the property.
Matthews said it is the largest drug seizure ever recorded in the territory.
During a joint press conference with Governor Augustus Jaspert, the police commissioner said the bust is the culmination of weeks of covert operations.
Two men were arrested at the scene, Police Constable Darren Davis, who has been a member of the RVIPF for over 20 years and his 40-year-old brother.
Commissioner Matthews said more arrests are imminent.
Meanwhile, Governor Jaspert said corruption is widespread and has been going undetected for too long in the BVI.
He said the drug bust has raised concerns about the territory's vulnerability to drug smuggling.
Governor Jaspert said a seizure of this magnitude is strong evidence of serious and organised criminality in the British Virgin Islands.
"The investigation is at an early stage, but regrettably the involvement of a police officer indicates that there may be pockets of corruption facilitating this kind of illicit activity."
He praised the officers involved in the drug bust while emphasizing the need for them to work quickly to ensure that all involved are apprehended and brought to justice.
Governor Jaspert said a message must be sent to all criminals that illicit activity will not be tolerated.
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