Latest news with #illegalfirearms
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Questions grow over unprecedented illegal firearms seizure in Jamaica
Jamaicans are seeking answers after officials revealed a massive illegal firearms seizure described by experts as the largest in the country's history, with enough guns and ammunition to 'arm a small army'. More than a week after the police and customs said they had intercepted 233 illegal rifles and handguns and more than 40,000 rounds of ammunition, the government has remained tight-lipped about the details of the find, arguing that revealing more information would hamper a sensitive cross-border investigation into their origin and the identity of those involved. According to unconfirmed local reports, the guns and ammunition were discovered inside an industrial-sized water heater at a warehouse in the country's capital, Kingston. Announcing the seizure in a hastily organised press conference, the deputy prime minister and minister of security, Horace Chang, told journalists that the operation was 'reported a bit early'. Chang refused to give details of the operation, telling reporters that 'the more we talk about it, the less likely we are to find' those responsible, adding: 'In fact, too much information [has] already gone out.' Jason McKay, a criminologist, said that Jamaica – which is already battling high homicide rates linked to gun trafficking from the US – should be treating the discovery of 'enough guns to fight a government' as a crisis. 'You could literally arm a small army with that. At this point in time, our sovereignty is in question,' he said. 'That much guns and ammunition falling into any environment could cause mayhem. If you were to drop that much guns and ammunition into London, you could change the culture of London crime. So it has to be looked at as a crisis.' The government has hailed the gun find as a product of a $50bn (£37bn) investment in security and efforts to tackle organised crime. Andrew Holness, Jamaica's prime minister, told reporters it was the result of improvements in resources for the Jamaica Customs Agency, improved partnerships with international partners and 'significant investment' in scanning technology. Holness also avoided details, saying the weapons had been discovered with scanning technology and predicting that increased interdiction would reduce the supply of guns in Jamaica. 'The investigations are ongoing, and I am certain that our security forces will track down, along with our international partners, those who were responsible for this,' he said. Last year the New York attorney general, Letitia James, announced new measures and legislation to tackle gun trafficking from the US to the Caribbean. James quoted Jamaican government estimates that at least 200 guns are trafficked into the country from the US every month, and said that the weapons are fuelling violent crime and enabling networks that traffic drugs to the US. The Jamaican government also pointed to a historic 43% drop in murders since last year. 'That means we have a reduction of … [about] 210 murders compared to the period last year, that is, January to May. This is the lowest rate of homicide in the island since 1991,' Chang told reporters. Kamina Johnson Smith, the foreign minister, said the strong crime reduction trend has resulted in the US upgrading Jamaica's travel advisory from level three, which urges travellers to 'reconsider your travel to the destination due to serious risks to safety and security'. Jamaica's advisory, she said, is now at level two – the same as 'much larger and more developed countries' such as Spain and the UK. 'This improvement is a timely acknowledgment of Jamaica's continued progress in enhancing public safety, as well as the travel experience for visitors,' she added. However, while McKay has lauded the 'amazing' reduction in crime, he has called for 'extreme measures' to deal with the rising number of guns being trafficked. He said: 'Of course, the police are doing their best to recover them, but if they're going to come in at this rate, then it's not going to be quantifiable. You have to do something drastic at this point.' The criminologist said that capital punishment should be considered. 'Jail time isn't enough for somebody who's importing 220 guns. It's more than them just endangering one person's life or two [people's lives]; they're endangering the entire society's life in Jamaica,' he said.
The Herald
02-06-2025
- General
- The Herald
Six nabbed in Hankey for illegal firearms
Six people, including a local shop owner, are expected to appear in the Hankey magistrate's court on Monday for the alleged illegal possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. Police said three firearms and ammunition were seized during the operation. The arrests followed an incident on Saturday, at about 6pm, when police conducting routine patrols observed three men outside a shop in Bafana Xhashimwe Street in Hankey. Two of the men were identified as suspects wanted for illegally pointing a firearm and assault. Upon searching the group, police discovered an unlicensed firearm and ammunition in the possession of the third man, police spokesperson WO Majola Nkohli said. All three were immediately arrested. 'While transporting the suspects to the police station, officers noticed suspicious behaviour from the shop owner and his two assistants. 'Police returned to the premises, where preliminary investigations — including a review of shop security footage — revealed that the initial suspects had thrown two firearms into the shop when the police arrived. 'The footage further showed the owner and his assistants retrieving and concealing the weapons. 'Two additional unlicensed firearms were recovered from inside the shop, leading to the arrest of the owner and his two assistants. 'The six suspects, aged between 19 and 41, face charges including pointing a firearm, assault, possession of unlicensed firearms and the possession of illegal ammunition. 'Additional charges may be added as the investigation progresses,' Nkohli said. Acting Sarah Baartman district commissioner Brig Asogran Naidoo commended the officers for their vigilance. 'Their alertness in handling potentially armed suspects ensured the safety of the community and led to the recovery of illegal weapons,' Naidoo said. The seized firearms will undergo ballistic testing to determine potential links to other serious crimes. The Herald
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man arrested in Ford Heights traffic stop with loaded, stolen handgun: police
The Brief Corion Reed, 18, was arrested in Ford Heights after a traffic stop led to the discovery of a stolen, loaded handgun. Reed did not have a FOID or concealed carry license, according to investigators. He faces multiple charges, including aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon. COOK COUNTY - An 18-year-old man was arrested after investigators say they found him with a loaded, stolen handgun during a traffic stop in Ford Heights. What we know Cook County Sheriff's Police said Monday that Corion Reed was arrested following a traffic stop near the 1600 block of South Lincoln Highway in Ford Heights. Investigators with the Organized Crime Division said Reed had a handgun with an extended magazine loaded with 20 rounds of live ammunition. The gun was later determined to be reported stolen out of Chicago. Investigators also said Reed did not have a valid Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) card or a Concealed Carry License. Reed was charged with aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of cannabis. He was also issued a citation for having the extended magazine. What we don't know Officials did not say what prompted the traffic stop, and no information was provided about court dates or whether Reed remains in custody. The Source The information in this article was provided by the Cook County Sheriff's Office.
CBC
09-05-2025
- CBC
Hamilton man charged with importing illegal guns: provincial police
A 24-year-old man from Hamilton faces 19 charges related to importing guns, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say. Police working with a law enforcement partnership called Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) arrested the man in Burlington on April 16, OPP said in a news release Thursday. They charged the man with offences including importing a firearm knowing it's unauthorized and unauthorized possession of a prohibited device. The man is in custody and scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Milton on May 14, OPP said. Police would not say where in Burlington they arrested the man, whether he had prior convictions, how many illegal guns he had or what they suspected he would do with them. OPP spokesperson Angie Sloan said "it would not be appropriate for the OPP to speculate." "At this time, we have not identified other suspects and the investigation has concluded," Sloan said, adding any firearm deemed a "crime gun" is traced through a provincial program. "Illegal firearms are a commodity that are trafficked to other criminals who intend to use them for the commission of an offence. There is a high profit margin on illegal firearms," she said. The arrest followed an investigation into guns imported to Canada and the U.S., which OPP members of BEST in Niagara worked on with American law enforcement. Formed in 2005, BEST is led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Sloan said the provincial police are "a long-standing partner."
