Two Arrested After East End Gun Recovery
Two men have been remanded after police recovered a Glock pistol and ammunition during an early-morning operation in East End, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force said. The seizure, which police say took place on June 11 and included six rounds of 9mm ammunition, is the 12th illegal firearm recovered in the Territory so far this year.
Officers in the East End have arrested two men following the recovery of an illegal firearm and ammunition during an early-morning operation, police said. According to a report of the operation published by Guavaberry and a press release circulated by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) on June 18, 2026, the seizure took place on June 11 and resulted in the recovery of a Glock pistol and six rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Fifty-year-old Antonio Diaz Montero and 40-year-old Wilson Lorenzo Perez were taken into custody after the recovery and charged with Keeping an Unlicensed Firearm and Unlawful Possession of Explosives, the RVIPF said. Perez faces an additional charge of Illegal Entry. Both men appeared before the Magistrate’s Court and were remanded to His Majesty’s Prison; they are due back in court on September 22, 2026.
The RVIPF said this marks the 12th illegal firearm recovered by the Force so far in 2026, underscoring what it called an ongoing effort to remove dangerous weapons from the Territory’s streets. Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline E. Vanterpool commented on the seizure, saying, "The recovery of this Glock and ammunition in East End is a stark reminder of the deadly threat that illegal firearms pose to our community.
This is especially concerning given that firearms have been the weapon of choice in all our recent homicides. Every weapon we seize is a potential life saved. While this marks our twelfth recovery this year, we cannot become complacent." The quoted comments were included in the RVIPF release and reported by local media.
Police described the operation as early-morning activity in the East End district; specifics about timing and the number of rounds recovered (six 9mm cartridges) were reported by Guavaberry, citing the RVIPF. Authorities have emphasised that removing weapons from circulation is central to reducing gun-related crime and preventing further violence in the community.
Acting Commissioner Vanterpool also urged residents to work with police and to report suspicious activity, repeating the Force’s call: "If you see something, say something. Together, we can choke the supply of these dangerous weapons and keep our Territory safe." The Force reiterated its commitment to investigating illegal firearms and disrupting the supply chains that bring weapons into the Virgin Islands.
Members of the public with information about illegal firearms or other criminal activity are encouraged to contact the RVIPF Intelligence Unit at 368-9512 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 800-8477 (TIPS), the police said. The investigation into the East End recovery remains active as the Territory waits for further legal proceedings in September.
This article draws on the RVIPF press release published via VINO on June 18, 2026, and on reporting by Guavaberry that provided operational details about the June 11 seizure.
Primary source: VINO