Beautiful Virgin Islands

Friday, Jul 25, 2025

New ‘MV Searcher’ added to VI’s crime-fighting marine fleet

New ‘MV Searcher’ added to VI’s crime-fighting marine fleet

Acting Financial Secretary, Jeremiah G.A Frett has urged his department to ensure that accidents are avoided and the newest vessel to join their fleet, the MV Searcher is fully maintained.

Mr Frett was at the time delivering brief remarks during the official dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the launching of the new Customs vessel at the Marine Base in Burt Point on March 5, 2021.

Acting Financial Secretary, Jeremiah G.A. Frett has urged his department to ensure that accidents are avoided and the newest vessel to join their fleet, the MV Searcher is fully maintained.


MV Searcher means ‘more secure borders’ – Mr Frett


“This vessel, MV Searcher, will help Customs in their remit. MV Searcher will add to the Customs marine fleet, ensuring that the most precious resources, our BVI community, will realize a reduction in crime, more secure borders and increased patrols,” he said.

“We only ask two things of you, Commissioner of Customs and other end-users of this vessel, keep this vessel maintained at all times and demonstrate good sailing and navigation skills to avoid any accidents on the high seas or otherwise,” Mr Frett added.

Frett said the boat will also be an “essential tool” as they continue to make strides towards building the BVI that “we aspire it to be.”

Mr Frett said the boat will be an 'essential tool' as they continue to make strides towards building the BVI that 'we aspire it to be.'


$$ pumped into marine capabilities of VI – Mr Smith


Meanwhile, Commissioner of Customs Mr Wade N. Smith said millions have been pumped into marine assets since the 2017 hurricanes ravaged their boats.

“The storms of 2017 left us without a vessel. Inoperable and unable to secure the borders. However, within the last year and a half, we have been fully restored.”

“In addition to the recently acquired Midnight Express by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, the Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Agencies marine capabilities with high-speed interceptors are second to none in the region. Combined, the replacement value of these assets can be in the vicinity of $2.5 to $3 million,” Mr Smith remarked.

He boasted that the investment to secure the territory’s borders has yielded “significant returns” in the fight against transnational crimes that are intercepted in the Virgin Islands.

Present at the dedication ceremony was also Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon. Andrew A. Fahie (R1), who expressed that he was pleased that the government saw it fit to make the purchase that will assist in making the territory a safer place.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
×