St. James police seize 15 illegal guns post-Hurricane Melissa

 

The St. James police have seized 15 illegal weapons since the passage of Hurricane Melissa. 

 

This was disclosed by head of operations in the division, Superintendent Linroy Edwards.

 

He said the weapons were seized during targeted operated under the anti-crime initiative, Operation Endgame.

 

He said the crackdown on criminal activities in St. James has resulted in a reduction in murders and shootings. The parish has so far recorded 51 murders for 2025, compared to 119 over the corresponding period last year. 

 

The cops on Wednesday seized another rifle in the parish. 

 

The P15 rifle, with a magazine containing seventeen 5.56 rounds, as well as a bottle containing 37 5.56 rounds were seized during a targeted operation at a house in Glendevon. 

 

One arrest was made. 

 

Meanwhile, 17 firearms have been seized in the St. James Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs) since the start of the year. 

 

The latest seizure occurred in Mount Salem on Monday. In a targeted operation on Pickett Street, a high-powered rifle with 22 rounds of ammunition were found at a property. Three people were detained in connection with the seizure. 

 

Joint commander within the St. James ZOSOs, Deputy Superintendent Keeble Simms, said six of the 17 firearms were seized in Mount Salem and 11 in Norwood.

 

"What is also significant is that there has been tremendous retraction in terms of the frequency and the number of murders and shooting. Since the start of the year, we have only had one murder in this space. We have got none in Norwood, which underscores the kind of effort, the kind of commitment on the part of the security forces. Admittedly, we still have a number of gangs not very active within this space. And of course, part of our primary focus is to continue to monitor them," he acknowledged.