Police report increase in number of illegal guns seized

 

The police are reporting a 37 per cent increase in the number of illegal firearms seized in Jamaica so far this year compared to the similar period in 2021.

 

Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson on Tuesday disclosed that 163 illegal firearms, including 28 rifles, have been found.

 

He said the seizures have been part of the 'Get Every Illegal Gun’ campaign, which recently incorporated the Jamaica Customs Agency into the initiative. 

 

General Anderson noted that the gun bust at Freeport wharf in Montego Bay, St. James on Monday was part of that campaign.

 

"During a non-intrusive inspection process carried out in Montego Bay, the Jamaica Customs Agency identified what appeared to be firearms hidden in television sets. They engaged with St. James and the ports police and we subsequently seized two rifles, one submachine gun, four handguns, eight magazines and 16 rounds," he outlined. 

 

 

 

General Anderson, who was speaking during a virtual media briefing, said 17 of the 88 people who were listed as wanted in January, have been taken into custody.

 

One of the wanted men was killed during an alleged confrontation with the police.

 

The Police Commissioner disclosed that the Jamaica Constabulary Force's Wanted Wednesdays campaign resulted in 11 of the arrests. The Wanted Wednesdays social media campaign was launched in February, he said, and aimed at "influencing how the public and particularly women thought about the reporting of wanted persons". 

 

 

 

The commissioner said there have been more than eleven major drug seizures since January 1.

 

The operations were carried out by the Narcotics Division and the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard. 

 

"A combined total of approximately 5,600 pounds of ganja has been seized in these incidents. This has an estimated local street value of J$25 million, and had it gotten into the US market, the estimated value would be over US$6.6 million. During just one narcotics operation this year, we seized J$3.7 million along with US$430 and 134 grams of cocaine," General Anderson revealed. 

 

 

 

There has been a 15 per cent decline in major crimes in Jamaica.

 

The Police Commissioner noted that murders were down by six per cent.

 

"Of the 240 murders committed since the start of the year, 75 per cent are gang related, 12 per cent arose from interpersonal disputes, five per cent were committed in furtherance of other crimes, one per cent were mob killings, and we still have seven per cent which are still being attributed," he revealed. 

 

Shootings are down by 21 per cent, while there was a 14 per cent decline in robberies and a 44 per cent drop in break-ins.