Teens charged following illegal gun find
Two 18-year-old men have been charged after police discovered two illegal firearms and ammunition during an early-morning operation in the Diamond Estate area last Friday.
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) said the two men, identified as Jahvin Chinnery of Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke, and Yrvin Stephens of Lower Estate, were arrested and charged with Keeping a Firearm without a Licence, Unlawful Possession of a Prohibited Firearm, and two counts of Unlawful Possession of Explosives for 34 rounds of ammunition.
According to the police statement, the charges stemmed from an incident in which officers on mobile patrol stopped a vehicle and conducted a search that led to the recovery of the weapons and ammunition. Both men remain in custody pending their appearance before the Magistrate’s Court.
Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline Vanterpool praised the officers involved in the operation and highlighted the importance of removing firearms from the streets. “The removal of these weapons from our streets is a direct result of the vigilance of our officers who remain committed to safeguarding our communities. Illegal firearms have no place in the Virgin Islands, and we will continue to take decisive action against those who choose to possess them,” Vanterpool stated.
The RVIPF urged members of the public to assist in the ongoing fight against illegal firearms by reporting any suspicious activity or information to the Intelligence Unit or through Crime Stoppers. All information provided will be treated with strict confidence.
This latest incident follows a string of firearm-related arrests in the territory in recent months. Police have ramped up operations following a surge in gun-related offences and concerns raised during the recent Crime Summit, which brought together community leaders and law enforcement officials to discuss strategies for curbing violent crime.
Authorities have reiterated that illegal gun possession carries serious penalties and urged residents to cooperate with law enforcement efforts to ensure safer communities across the territory.
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Would these guys be driving around with such weapon and ammunitions? Clearly, they were up to no good.
Gun violence has become a serious problem in the territory. If regular citizens and business owners cannot carry a gun legally to protect themselves from the likes of these two, then the onus is on law enforcement and the courts to protect us all from these criminals.
Something has to give. The legal system and the courts either do it’s jobs or one day, somebody is going to take the law in their own hands.
Depending on the circumstances, if that person should be charged with a crime for protecting themselves or property, I personally will not find them guility if I was a juror on their case because law enforcement ane the judicial system failed to protect us. Jury nullification if you will.
At any rate, kudos to the RVIPF for intercepting these two. I think it’s fair to say the RVIPF has upped their game and it’s welcomed. Their arrest probably has saved someones’ life.
Imagine they are so young, and here they are starting out their lives down a road of criminality.
They are legally men now, and have to face the music as adults. They should know better. They certainly know that having such weapons is a criminal offense. Lock them up, and let them face the consequences of their stupid decisons.
Parents need to raise their children right and lead them away from a criminal life. If they should fail, this is their children’s faith. Being arrested is the best senario, but they could also end up in the graveyard.
Lastly, it’nice to see the faces of the trouble makers who are living amongst us. The decision by the RVIPF to start releasing their pictures to the public and the media is a much welcomed one.
Get your selves together young people. Find your way, any way other than down the road of criminality.
Some of these youngsters face hell on earth and have nowhere to turn. The system is producing these beings. Stop denying the truth and face our sick reality.
JVD got a different breed sah
that is waiting to feasting on these bad boyz “ballz” after they are barbecued . so castration is a good cure for these set of wannabe gansters ( by the way where are the voices of his exelency CSC / the bishUp a s the other one , who said that there is ” no corruption here ” / ah guess the guns – the drugs, just fell out of the sky .
Don’t worry they’ll get a light sentence. The kid had a Glock with a flashlight on my question is how does one get a Glock and a flashlight in the BVI. No way a 18 year old is getting a gun like that transported into the BVI.
Up to no good? Bull crap!
We don’t manufacture firearms.
Go find the importers for profit masquarading as businessmen and women and start there.
Guns are like alcohol to sum folk.They should be around it cause they have no control.Switzerland has a gun culture bigger than the states..no mass shootings..no teenagers running around in a
Stolen Kia..all armed to the teeth..They go out as a family,go target shooting,hunting,events..normal gun owner stuff.One Ak on Tortola and it’s chaos.
It’s terrifying that people like this, without the mental capacity to make rational decisions are walking around with guns. Deciding who can live or die at their hands. Ready to kill for gain or petty grievance.
What has this place become?
Yo Killa gone but the seeds done sow
And then starting to bloom
We keep promoting and idolizing criminal life
We have plenty women and young girl here breeding for criminals cuz “she luv bad man” then they end up a single mother unmarried producing more criminals.
I saw a social media video of some BVI women here posing with hand in the form of a gun holding the trigger
Yea keep promoting this behaviour and idolizing it. The youths are watching and learning from y’all and they’ll become even worst than y’all
Y’all got people dressed up with mask and money bags and Ballon guns on jueve then wonder why so much youths love guns and crime.
It all jokes during festive events until one of those dunce youths pull up on you for nonsense
The same young adults here who see ntn wrong with the new culture being promoted are only fanning the flames. What is positive about dancehall songs singing about sex,drugs,gang and violence?
What is positive about dudes with no jobs with big gold chains coming rapping for y’all cuz he a local rapper?
What is positive about getting drunk and dry humping each other on the roads then breaking out in fights over woman and man for dancing with each other… isn’t that the culture….so why fight? Probably bcuz tho intimate dry humping means more than dancing and “culture”
What message are you sending to the Younger generation???
Well you about to see what message they got soon
The country do not manufacture guns!
How do the get into the territory. They fall from the sky?
They enter through the ports of entry by land, sea and air
Who control these entry points
99 % Indigenous BVIslanders
Here is corrupted as it comes
THEM gun look like they done mash work
When you say ” corruption ” becarerful ” it might hurt the feelings of the QUIET one of the 3 fake holy men from CGB who does you on TV and HOLLER OUT of don’t have any corruption here ( when we all know that there is “CORRUPTION” EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD • lord have mercy on that hypocrite / well the other 2 is just the same , the difference is the other two crave the spotlight so they they will say anything to create contrOversy, until KARMA CATCHES UP WITH THEM • what is even CRAZIER is ‘ how can people go to a church and listen to these pretenders preach , knowing their
background ( there is an old saying – the upholder is worse than the thief ) and I will leave it there
Blame it on whitey..default setting nowadays.
Dah ting got a switch on it. B.V.I in trouble if switches around now. That little box on the back of the gun is a switch and it turns a semiautomatic pistol into a fully automatic pistol. This is not good for the place at all.