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Gold jewellery in demand in VI’s black market

- Stolen items may be exported to St. Thomas & St. Maarten
Gold jewellery is big business in the black market.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The “black market” for gold jewellery is on the rise in the Virgin Islands, sources told Virgin Islands News Online, with steps being taken to control the underground trade.

“Persons are robbed of their jewellery and resold for half the price to sometimes unsuspecting individuals who think they are getting a sweet deal,” one jewellery store owner disclosed to this news agency.

Furthermore, the owner, who does not want to be named for security reasons, admitted that the temptation is great when offers are made, but refuses because he does not want to lose his reputation.

“In this kind of business your reputation and credibility are crucial,” he added.

Meanwhile, David Morris, Deputy Commissioner of Police informed Virgin Islands News Online that the police have begun to work with Customs to search passengers leaving the Territory to curtail any smuggling of jewellery.

“...our concern is the black market business, we believe the jewellery are either sold or exported to St. Maarten and St Thomas,” he added

As for the legitimate businesses that work around “cash for gold”, Morris divulged that the police have a good relationship with them. “They have trade licenses and conform to our request in providing photographs with people who come in with the gold, taking photographs of the jewellery and giving us an opportunity to check if anything is stolen.”

7 Responses to “Gold jewellery in demand in VI’s black market ”

  • king wade (13/12/2011, 08:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    lawd ah mussy dem start tis ting here...dem use to do tis in st. martin a few years ago....
  • godfather (13/12/2011, 11:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    So dem people dem who broke open the jewelry shop some days ago is this what they are doing with it????
  • decision time (13/12/2011, 11:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Customs to search passengers leaving the Territory to curtail any smuggling of jewellery???tis is going a bit too far now what about people's rights?????
    • Equal right and justice (13/12/2011, 12:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You still have rights; the right to be searched. If you got nothing to hide, no problem!
    • wake up (13/12/2011, 14:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Do you not think that people have a right to live in a crime free society? IF you have something to hide you will have a problem with having your luggage searched, even if only through a scanner. If you have nothing to hide the inconvenience is worthwhile to ensure that stolen goods, guns, narcotics and whatever else is not being shipped in or out of this territory - afterall you may oneday be saved from being a victim of crime through these kind of measures. Keep up the good work Police and Customs - you will never please everyone and we seem to have more than our fair share of idiots on this rock.
  • Angry Victim (13/12/2011, 15:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I wish I could have back all my gold jewelry...everything I bought over the last 25 years....gone because some kid needed money and is too proud to get a job doing anything menial.
    • Tuffbong33 (13/12/2011, 17:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      They can start by closing a particular jewellery store. They found some of my rings there this year, but the po po did nothing to close him down. One stupid boy tell me that's where he takes the stuff that he stole. Only found the cheap rings, all the good stuff, still missing. I feel for ya bro. They come by me again, I'm gonna take off some fingers. Angry armed Tolian!!


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