Expats Charged Over Illegal Firearm
Two expatriate men have been arrested and charged after police allegedly recovered a Glock handgun and nearly 10 rounds of ammunition during an operation at Nottingham Estate, Tortola. One of the men also faces an immigration-related charge amid ongoing police efforts to remove illegal firearms from BVI streets.
Two expatriate men have been arrested and charged after police say they recovered an illegal firearm and ammunition during an operation at Nottingham Estate on Tortola last week. According to BVI News, the men have been identified as 40-year-old Wilson Lorenzo Perez of Antigua and Barbuda and 51-year-old Antonio Diaz Montero of the Dominican Republic.
Authorities allege the items recovered included a Glock handgun and nearly 10 rounds of ammunition. Perez faces an additional immigration-related charge, reportedly accused of illegal entry into the Virgin Islands. Sources indicate officials are uncertain of his exact arrival date but believe he may have been living in the community for more than three years.
Perez is also alleged to have refused to cooperate with police and denied the accusations against him. Details on the circumstances that led officers to the Nottingham Estate property have not been released. Police have not yet provided information on whether either man has been granted bail, or when they will next appear in court.
The arrests come as part of an ongoing push by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force to remove illegal firearms and ammunition from the territory. In recent years, gun-related incidents have driven stepped-up enforcement and community appeals for information, and this latest operation underscores continuing law-enforcement priorities.
For residents in the BVI, seizures like this are significant. Illegal firearms increase the risk of violent crime and undermine public safety, particularly in densely populated areas such as parts of Tortola. Police have in the past urged community members to report suspicious activity and to support efforts to reduce the circulation of illegal weapons.
The identities and nationalities of the accused underscore the territory’s ongoing need to coordinate criminal and immigration enforcement. Immigration-related charges can carry separate administrative and criminal consequences; however, specifics of Perez’s alleged illegal entry—including any documentation or travel history—have not been made public.
BVI News will continue to follow this case and will provide updates as police release further details, including charge sheets, court dates, or information about any wider investigations. Anyone with information about illegal weapons or related activity in their community is encouraged to contact the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force.
Primary source: BVI News