A 17-year-old Virgin Gorda boy and a 25-year-old Mount Healthy man were arrested last month in connection with separate gun seizures, police said on Aug. 1.
The teenager, of North Sound, was charged with carrying a firearm without a licence and unlawful possession of explosives following the July 17 seizure of a loaded Glock 19 pistol after officers responded to “suspicious activity” in Road Town, police said.
He was one of two boys intercepted during the operation.
Police did not provide further details or explain why they didn’t announce the charges until more than two weeks after the seizure.
Second arrest
In the other incident, Malachy Payne, of Mount Healthy, was charged with keeping a firearm without a licence and unlawful possession of explosives after officers recovered a firearm and ammunition during a stop-and-check operation in the Huntums Ghut area, police said Aug. 1.
Police did not say when the seizure took place or provide further details.
As of Aug. 1, both suspects had been remanded to His Majesty’s Prison as investigations continued.
Tip line
Police said the charges came as they intensified efforts to rid the territory of illegal firearms and ammunition.
As of mid-July, they added, a total of 14 firearms and 995 rounds of ammunition had been recovered this year.
Since then, at least two more guns were seized during the August Emancipation Festival season.
Police are urging anyone with information about illegal weapons or other suspicious activity to call their Intelligence Unit at 368-9339 or report information anonymously via Crime Stoppers by calling 800-8477 (TIPS) locally or 284-800-8477 from overseas.