CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Virgin Islands Police Department, as part of its continued initiative of reducing gun violence in the territory, intercepted five semi-automatic handguns of various calibers and two semi-automatic assault rifles.
The person attempted to bring the firearms into the territory but did not disclose all the weapons. VIPD Firearms Investigation Unit confiscated the firearms and has launched an investigation into the background of the bearer and the origin of the weapons.
VIPD Firearms Investigation Unit enforces the Rules and Regulations, Laws, Policies and Procedures that govern the licensing of firearms within the U.S. Virgin Islands.
It is also responsible for ensuring that applicants are properly investigated and meet all the qualifications required by law prior to being granted a firearms license.
The Unit is also responsible for court presentations and home and business inspections. The Unit is the record keeper of all firearms registrations in the territory.
The Firearms Unit recommends that you do not bring your mainland-licensed firearm into our islands if you will be visiting without contacting the Firearms Unit. Bringing unlicensed firearms into the territory will result in those firearms being confiscated and you may be prosecuted in accordance to the laws of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
When traveling to the United States Virgin Islands, please call our office to find out our rules and regulations on firearms.
Our law requires that if you come into the US Virgin Islands with a firearm, you must IMMEDIATELY contact the Firearms Unit at 340-778-2211 or 340-774-2211. You will be arrested if you are found in possession of an unregistered firearm, the VIPD said.