July 2, 2002 – Twenty federal and local law-enforcement officers raided the Campo Rico community around 3 p.m. Tuesday, detaining 12 individuals and seizing cocaine, crack, marijuana and a handgun, according to a spokesman for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
Authorities said the action was taken after complaints from neighborhood residents of illicit activities taking place in the area.
The HIDTA spokesman, who asked not to be named, said one person was arrested in connection with the seizures and that the investigation is continuing.
He said the agents had five search warrants that were obtained after authorities had received complaints of drugs being distributed openly. Most of the detainees "were not from that area," he said. "They were just peddling their wares, so to speak."
The HIDTA team included officers from the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the V.I. Police Department Special Response Team.
The spokesman thanked concerned Campo Rico residents for being "the eyes and ears" in their neighborhoods and urged others to assist law-enforcement agencies with cleaning up V.I. communities. "We are limited in staff, but they do a great job," he said of the HIDTA team.
He asked that anyone with information concerning illegal activity call the HIDTA Anonymous Tip Line telephone number, 713-1497. Callers are not required to identify themselves, he said.
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