Earlier today, Police Commissioner Elton Lewis joined the regional board of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) in briefing Governor Charles Turnbull and Lieutenant Governor Richards on continuing initiatives to reduce gun crime. The meeting was coordinated by Director Jose M. Alvarez and Deputy Director Catherine L. Mills, of the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA. Lewis is the past Chair of Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA Executive Board.

Lewis said the meeting was called to enable Governor Turnbull to hear directly from the heads of federal law enforcement agencies that have oversight in the Virgin Islands. “The territory has experienced a significant increase in gun-related crimes during the last six months,” Lewis noted. “Although the Police Department has provided regular updates to Governor Turnbull and Lieutenant Governor Richards on departmental strategies to address this increase, I felt a more comprehensive discussion of this subject was needed.” Gun crime is frequently linked to drug trafficking.

The following federal agencies were represented at the meeting: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, U. S. Marshal Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The Virgin Islands Office of the Attorney General and British Virgin Islands’ Customs and Police Officers were also present. The discussion was facilitated by National Guard Adjutant General Eddy Charles.

According to Lewis, an exchange of dialogue by both federal and non-local law enforcement addressing gun importation and violence together is of critical importance. “This meeting was timely and productive. I anticipate that today’s discussion should bear fruit in the foreseeable future.”