Pubdate: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 Source: Virgin Islands Daily News, The (VI) Copyright: 2004 Virgin Islands Daily News Contact: http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3486 Author: Fiona Stokes-Gifft WEAPONS, DRUGS SEIZED IN CRIME CRACKDOWN IN TERRITORY ST. CROIX - A joint anti-crime initiative carried out by federal and local officers has resulted in the seizure of guns, knives and large quantities of various drugs. At at press briefing Friday, Police Chief Novelle Francis Jr. said the recent surge in violent crime in the territory prompted the initiative. The Police Department joined forces with federal and local agents assigned to the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force; the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and U.S. marshals to beef up law enforcement throughout the island. Federal and local officers as well as members of the Special Operations Bureau on St. Thomas have spent the last week patrolling high-crime areas, including housing communities where recent crimes have occurred, and setting up traffic stops to search vehicles for contraband, Francis said. During the crackdown, which began Oct. 6 on St. Thomas and continued from Oct. 15 through 21 on St. Croix, officers confiscated seven guns, 35 knives and two bulletproof vests. They seized or recovered 208 dime bags of marijuana, 30 pieces of crack cocaine and three decks, or packages containing small quantities of cocaine. They uprooted 96 marijuana plants of various sizes. Francis said that while all the seizures did not yield immediate arrests, nine individuals were arrested during the last week. He would not say where the patrols, seizures of drugs or arrests took place because the investigations are ongoing. Police Commissioner Elton Lewis said the department intends to send a clear message to the small percentage of people in the community who are terrorizing residents. "It's only a small amount of thugs that are creating problems, and we are going after them," he said. He said the weapons police confiscated included high-powered firearms - - such as the tek-9 and sawed-off shotgun - and a number of very large, dangerous knives. "These are the types of weapons on our streets. We have to get them," Lewis said. As officers displayed the guns and drugs that have been taken off the street, Lewis said the initiative is decreasing violent crime in the territory. Deputy Police Chief Herminio Velazquez said, "We need the public to continue calling and giving us leads and information, and we will work together to rid the territory of the criminal element." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek