Another major gun seizure at Montego Bay wharf

By Sherrica Thompson

Staff Writer

#Jamaica, February 7, 2023 – It seems a major gun dealer in Western Jamaica has been outed by a second shipment of illegal guns; the country has intercepted a large cache of unregistered firearms and ammunition. 

In commenting on the seizures, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Crime and Security Portfolio, Fitz Bailey, said the police will be ensuring that those responsible for the illegal weapons are prosecuted. 

“The investigation in relation to both findings continues, and we believe that at the end of the day, we will successfully prosecute those who are behind sending these illegal weapons.”

“These weapons are weapons of destruction; they are not sent to shoot birds; they are sent to shoot human beings,” he said.

Some 59 illegal guns; five rifles and 54 handguns were reportedly found at the wharf in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on Friday, February 3.

According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, 101 assorted rounds of ammunition were also found in the smuggling attempt. 

The person named as the receiver in the cast of the 22 guns seized at the same location on January 27, was named as the receiver for this larger illegal shipment.

The search was conducted by officers of the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigations Branch (C-TOC) and US counterparts.

The seizures come as the Jamaican government has been engaging US officials on further measures that could be taken to stem the flow of illegal guns into the country, with a focus on increased security measures at the ports including securing more scanners.