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HIDTA Officials commit to reinstating local drug interdiction unit on St. Thomas

Governor John deJongh addresses HIDTA Executive Council during a meeting at Government House on March 14, 2007.

Three federal agency representatives in the Virgin Islands joined Acting Police Commissioner James McCall in committing the resources necessary to provide a return to the V.I. of the drug interdiction unit known commonly as the "Blue Lightning Strike Force." The announcement was made during a two-hour meeting Wednesday between Gov. John deJongh and the executive council of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force.

McCall was joined by U.S. Coast Guard Commanding Officer Captain James Tunstall, Dave Christopher of Customs and Border Protection and Mark Marshall, Chief Ranger for the V.I. National Park in unveiling plans to reactivate the Blue Lightning Strike Force. The unit was first introduced to the Virgin Islands in 1986 under terms of a joint federal-local government venture but was disbanded years later. Each official spoke of the need for increased drug interdiction in territorial waters. Christopher said that HIDTA was budgeting for the development of Blue Lightning on St. Thomas. "Customs and Border Protection, CBP, will extend a hand to train, equip and make available a fully outfitted Blue Lightning Strike Force on St. Thomas, we look forward to a bright future."

Tunstall said a Blue Lightning component would significantly augment the Coast Guard’s current drug interdiction operatives in the waters of the Virgin Islands. "We all have a stake in this battle against the narcotics flow in the U.S.V.I." He pledged the support of the Coast Guard in the effort. Marshall said the V.I National Park Service has already begun to make a section of its Red Hook headquarters available to provide a base of operation for the newly-instituted unit. "We will provide the docking, storage and office space needed to make Blue Lightning a success in the Virgin Islands."

A specific date was not provided as to when the unit’s presence will be noted in the waters of the Virgin Islands. The unit will consist of local law enforcement personnel who will undergo federal training and certification. A Blue Lightning Strike Force unit has been functional on St. Croix since the mid-1980’s.

The council, which is comprised of a host of federal law enforcement agencies, also provided an overview to the Governor of their presence in the territory and on some anti-drug and anti-crime initiatives now underway. deJongh opened the meeting welcoming the 30 federal and local law enforcement representatives to St. Thomas and underscored his commitment to law enforcement. He recalled that he was briefed by a few of the agencies during the transition period. "I take very serious the potential of us working together as partners. I will listen to your concerns, the areas you see as priorities and I will speak of our most troubling areas when it comes to crime," deJongh said Wednesday morning. 

Other federal officials involved in the briefing included: U.S. Attorney of Puerto Rico Rosa E. Rodriquez, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Resident-Agent-in-Charge Marcial O. Felix, Drug Enforcement Administration Resident-Agent-in-Charge Gene Hawk, U.S. Postal Inspection Services Assistant Inspector-in-Charge Frank Silva, Internal Revenue Services Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Luis Rivera, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Resident Agent-in-Charge Hillary Hodge, Customs and Border Protection Area Port Director Tarance Drafts and Nelson Jones, Chief of the Criminal Division at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 

The Virgin Islands Police Commissioner and Attorney General are members of the HIDTA executive council which meets regularly in Puerto Rico. The council last met on St. Thomas in September 2006.

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