ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI — The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force Financial Crime Unit (RVIPF-FCU) has received regional recognition for its effectiveness in supporting international financial crime investigations.
The Unit was named the ARIN-CARIB Most Responsive Member for 2025/2026, an award recognising its timely, reliable and professional responses to requests from international law enforcement and asset-recovery partners.
The award was presented during the Asset Recovery Interagency Network Caribbean (ARIN-CARIB) Annual General Meeting, held in Georgetown, Guyana, in July 2026.
ARIN-CARIB brings together asset-recovery and financial-crime authorities throughout the Caribbean, facilitating the rapid exchange of information necessary to trace, restrain and recover criminal assets.
The British Virgin Islands was specifically recognised for the responsiveness and professionalism demonstrated by the RVIPF-FCU in dealing with requests from international partners.
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Kenrick Davis said the recognition reflects the dedication of officers within the Financial Crime Unit and strengthens the Territory’s standing as a trusted international financial centre.
“This recognition is a testament to the hard work of our officers and the strong collaboration with our partners,” Davis said. “It demonstrates the Virgin Islands’ unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards in fighting illicit finance.”
The RVIPF said the award also reflects years of targeted investment in strengthening the Territory’s regulatory and investigative framework and building the operational capacity of the Financial Crime Unit.
Authorities said these developments have positioned the RVIPF-FCU as a model of operational effectiveness in the region.
The achievement is also being linked to the Government of the Virgin Islands’ National Strategic Action Plan to Combat Financial Crime, which has focused on legislative reform, strengthening investigative capabilities and improving international cooperation in line with global standards established by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Among the recent legislative developments are the 2025 amendments to the Proceeds of Criminal Conduct Act, which introduced additional investigative tools, including customer information orders and account monitoring orders.
These measures are intended to give law enforcement greater ability to investigate financial crimes, trace criminal proceeds and recover illicit assets.
The RVIPF-FCU operates as part of a wider inter-agency framework involving the Financial Investigation Agency (FIA), Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and other competent authorities.
Officials said formal information-sharing arrangements between the FIA and RVIPF have improved the quality and flow of financial intelligence, while Memoranda of Understanding between agencies have further strengthened cooperation.
The collaborative framework is designed to ensure that the Territory presents a coordinated response to money laundering, terrorist financing and other forms of financial crime.
The ARIN-CARIB award therefore represents not only recognition of the Financial Crime Unit’s individual performance, but also an endorsement of the broader cooperation and infrastructure being developed across the Virgin Islands to combat illicit finance and protect the Territory’s reputation within the international financial system.