Beautiful Virgin Islands

Friday, Oct 24, 2025

20 firearms, $50M in drugs confiscated from Jose Almestica’s residence– CoP

20 firearms, $50M in drugs confiscated from Jose Almestica’s residence– CoP

As the investigation into crimes allegedly committed by Mr Jose Almestica continues, Commissioner of Police Mr Mark Collins has disclosed that 20 firearms and $50 million worth of drugs were found inside Almestica’s Ballast Bay apartment, paving the way for countless more charges to be laid against him.

The CoP said the recapture of Almestica was a major achievement for the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) in 2021.

“We consider Mr Almestica recapture substantial. He is obviously a lead player in the drug and arms trade not just in the BVI but in the USVI. There is a strong possibility that other charges may be brought against him as investigations continue. Almestica spent a number of years traversing the seas between the territories. Law enforcement agencies in both jurisdictions had hoped to recapture him before he was aware he was on the radar, which we did,” CoP Collins said at a press conference held today, Friday, January 7, 2022.

Jose Almestica, 33, of the US Virgin Islands, was re-captured on December 7, 2021. He was in prison for illegal possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition and illegal entry prior to his escape from Her Majesty's Prison following the passage of Hurricane Irma in September 2017.


New Charges


Mr Collins said in addition to the existing charges of escaping lawful custody, Almestica was charged with 11 counts of Keeping an Unlicensed Firearm, four counts of Keeping a Prohibited Weapon, one count of Carrying an Unlicensed Firearm, eight counts of Unlawful Possession of Ammunition and four counts of Possession of Controlled Drugs with Intent to Supply.

He said the new charges, “are as a result of the discovery of a cache of high powered, illegal and prohibited weapons; an unprecedented quantity of ammunition and a large amount of cash, as well as, a large amount of counterfeit notes, cocaine with a street value of almost $50 million, which were recovered in an operation conducted at the residence where Almestica was known to reside. As a result of the operation conducted by the Major Incident Team, 20 firearms total were confiscated. Of those 20, seven were high-powered prohibited weapons. In addition, close of 500 kilos of cocaine, 5.8 kilos of cannabis and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash were seized.”

The CoP stated that others were also similarly charged with Almestica.

“Further, we have also laid similar charges against the three who were originally charged with harbouring Mr Almestica. These persons are Jennifer Smith, 26, Renee Smith, 33, and Shamal Smith, 31 (all previously charged with harbouring related offences and are on remand at Her Majesty’s Prison). They were charged with: 11 counts of Keeping an Unlicensed Firearm, three counts of Keeping a Prohibited Weapon, seven counts of Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, and four counts of Possession of Control Drugs with Intent to Supply.”

Mr Collins said with the illegal firearms confiscated in this operation and the guns confiscated during other operations this year, “we have set a record of 30 guns seized for the year 2021. Of those seized, seven were prohibitive weapons. We also seized a record 1650 rounds of ammunition.”

He said the investigation is still live.

Almestica, 33, of the US Virgin Islands, was re-captured on December 7, 2021. He was in prison for illegal possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition and illegal entry prior to his escape from Her Majesty's Prison following the passage of Hurricane Irma in September 2017.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Lakestar to Halt External Fundraising as Investor in Revolut and Spotify
U.S. Innovation Ranking Under Scrutiny as China Leads Output Outputs but Ranks 10th
Three Men Arrested in London on Suspicion of Spying for Russia
Porsche Reverses EV Strategy as New CEO Bets on Petrol and Hybrids
Singapore’s Prime Minister Warns of ‘Messy’ Transition to Post-American Global Order
Andreessen Horowitz Sets Sights on Ten-Billion-Dollar Fund for Tech Surge
US Administration Under President Donald Trump Reportedly Lifts Ban on Ukraine’s Use of Storm Shadow Missiles Against Russia
‘Frightening’ First Night in Prison for Sarkozy: Inmates Riot and Shout ‘Little Nicolas’
White House Announces No Imminent Summit Between Trump and Putin
US and Qatar Warn EU of Trade and Energy Risks from Tough Climate Regulation
Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Crackdown in Landmark Court Battle
Nicolas Sarkozy begins five-year prison term at La Santé in Paris
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
×