Two 18-Year-Olds Charged After Firearm Seizure in
Two men, both 18, have been charged after officers recovered two Glock pistols and 34 rounds of ammunition during a mobile patrol stop in Diamond Estate. The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) identified the accused in a press release and said they remain in custody pending a Magistrate’s Court appearance; Jahphix Television (JTV) reported the vehicle was stopped in the early hours of Friday, October 10.
Two 18-year-old men have been charged following the discovery of illegal firearms and ammunition during a police operation in the Diamond Estate area, authorities say. According to a statement from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), officers on mobile patrol stopped a vehicle and conducted a search that led to the recovery of two Glock pistols and 34 rounds of ammunition.
The RVIPF named the accused in a press release dated October 13, 2025, as Jahvin Chinnery, 18, of Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke, and Yrvin Stephens, 18, of Lower Estate. Both men have been charged with Keeping a Firearm without a License, Unlawful Possession of a Prohibited Firearm and two counts of Unlawful Possession of Explosives in connection with the ammunition recovered, the RVIPF statement said.
The pair remain in police custody pending their appearance before the Magistrate’s Court. Jahphix Television (JTV) provided additional timing for the operation, reporting that the mobile patrol stop and subsequent search took place in the early hours of Friday, October 10. The details reported by JTV align with the information released by the RVIPF on October 13, reinforcing the sequence of events from the stop to the formal charging.
Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline E. Vanterpool commended the patrol officers involved and emphasised the force’s stance on illegal weapons. In the RVIPF press release she said the removal of the weapons was “a direct result of the vigilance of our officers who remain committed to safeguarding our communities,” and reiterated that illegal firearms have no place in the Virgin Islands.
The seizure and charges are a reminder of the ongoing risk posed by illegal weapons and the RVIPF’s efforts to reduce their circulation. The force has urged members of the public to report information about firearms or suspicious activity, saying tips help prevent violence and keep neighbourhoods safe.
Residents with information are asked to contact the RVIPF Intelligence Unit at 368-9339, or Crime Stoppers at 800-8477 locally or (284) 800-8477 from overseas; the police say all information will be treated in strict confidence. Authorities also said they will continue targeted patrols and investigations aimed at reducing illegal firearms across the islands.
This case will proceed through the Magistrate’s Court, where Chinnery and Stephens will answer the charges laid against them. Local news outlet VINO initially reported the seizure and charging information, and JTV provided the update on the timing of the stop that led to the discovery.
Primary source: VINO