(Antigua Sun) – The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda has renewed efforts to track down the sources of illegal guns entering the country.
Inspector Everton Jeffers head of the Police Strategic Communications Department (STRATCOM) said the police are concerned about gun-related crimes occurring in the country and have linked it to the illegal gun trade that exists.
He said most of the robberies, rapes, and murders are committed with guns and the criminals have to source the weapons from somewhere or someone. “In a small country of 172 square miles, if you include Barbuda, why should there be so many guns? It is a cause for concern.”
The police are therefore focusing their attention on finding the sources of these guns into the country and so far have identified three.
Jeffers said while there is no official data to confirm it, the police believe that the firearms are entering the country with each drug shipment.
He said, “Drugs and guns usually go together – hand in hand.” He said the drug runners would carry guns to protect themselves on the high seas and also to give defence when on island if the shipment is intercepted.
Jeffers said it is believed most of the drugs that enter Antigua and Barbuda come from St Vincent and they believe the islands are used for island hopping from the real source of the guns and drugs.
He said, “The Caribbean islands do not manufacture, so the guns are coming from somewhere.”
The police also believe that the guns are entering the country through being shipped in various containers and barrels. He said the customs officer would only check to make sure the itinerary of items listed are correct and would not necessarily check the legitimacy of each item.
Jeffers said that the gun runners also take advantage of the many inlets and beaches that make up the Caribbean nation.
“We believe that guns that have entered Antigua, entered via the open seas that are unpatrolled,” he said.
In an effort to curtail the number of illegal arms that are out there, Jeffers said the police are encouraging anyone who has possession of or may come across an illegal weapon to turn them in as soon as possible.
He said, for example, if someone comes across any ammunition(s) or firearm(s) while walking or driving, he should report it to the nearest station.
He promised that few questions will be asked of the citizen. However, if any person is found with an unlicensed firearm, whether the individual’s own or not, he warned he/she will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
