The Barbados Police Service reported seizing a record number of illegal firearms this month in a sweeping crackdown on gun crime — including one used in the robbery and slaying of a shopkeeper — vowing that lawless groups “will not win”.
In June, nine firearms and dozens of rounds of ammunition were confiscated during raids continuing day and night, Police Commissioner Richard Boyce told journalists at a press conference on Sunday.
Police and Barbados Defence Force soldiers are working jointly on the operations in a bid to arrest violent crime, which the top cop said was often fuelled by illegal guns.
“We want to win the battle against the lawless groups of persons who are determined to continue their violent acts of serious crimes such as murder, endangering the lives of persons, and robberies, which are oftentimes enabled by firearms,” Boyce declared.
Among the seized weapons was the gun used in the murder of Cameron Elcock, 22, of Rendezvous Gardens, Christ Church. He was shot dead on June 12 as he was closing up shop at Six Roads, St Philip.
Just last weekend, police operations in St Michael uncovered two guns — a Glock pistol and an AR-15 semi-automatic assault weapon — along with 30 rounds of ammunition. Five men, aged 18 to 24, were taken into custody for questioning.
Boyce described the seizure of the AR-15 as a “sobering moment”. He said: “We have no choice but to redouble our efforts to root (out) this real dangerous threat against the decent and proper functioning of our country.”
To help in the fight, the police commissioner said law enforcement is relying heavily on intelligence and public support. “The two major security agencies…the Police Service and the Barbados Defence Force, we work in a 24-hour regime to get this situation under control and to achieve all of our objectives. We have been very deliberate and focused in our efforts to do so. Our activities have been guided by those law-abiding citizens who have answered our calls to assist in this fight. But, most importantly, those persons who have given us their tangible support to deal with this situation,” he added.
As part of the wider push, the Police Service is also boosting surveillance across the island. Officers are currently installing more CCTV cameras in areas flagged by each division as crime hotspots, and maintenance teams will keep them clear of overgrown bush to ensure they remain effective.
“We need to have additional cameras brought in for us. Even today, we were out in the field in certain locations installing cameras. So, cameras for us, that is an ongoing exercise that is going to take a couple of months. We are very secure and good in some areas, but there are other areas where we are now branching out, having those cameras installed for the safety and benefit of every member of the public.”
He also noted that strides are being made to crack down on the nefarious smuggling of guns into the country, with an increase in border security measures.
“It means that our border security personnel will now have to be focused and more alert when it comes to doing the checks and balances because we believe that our ports of entry and also those wide open spaces around the island can be avenues to let in these weapons,” he said. “We know the collateral damage those weapons can do. So we would do everything within our system and also within the organisations to make sure that we keep those weapons out of the country.”
Boyce declared: “There’s only one option… there’s only one outcome for us — that we, the law enforcement fraternity and community, will win that battle.”
(LG)
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