Law enforcers have intensified their anti-gun strategies aimed at dismantling the criminal networks behind the current crime wave affecting the island, according to a newly released government report.
The Barbados Economic and Social Report 2024, produced by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment, exposes the scale of the problem, with the number of murders and firearm-enabled offences soaring, forcing authorities to ramp up tactics and urgently reinforce public safety measures.
The increased push by The Barbados Police Service to restore the country to a much safer place in which to live follows the report’s disclosure that there was a substantial increase of 29 in the number of murders in 2024, most of which were intentionally committed.
“The Barbados Police Service employed an intelligence-driven approach to combat firearm-related crimes, organised crime, and emerging threats through proactive enforcement, investigations, and strategic partnerships to enhance public safety,” the 232-page report stated in relation to the anti-gun strategies.
“These integrated strategies reinforced the Barbados Police Service’s commitment to eradicating gun violence, dismantling criminal enterprises, and safeguarding national security.”
Strategies executed in 2024 that are being escalated this year include targeted investigations to dismantle gangs, drug trafficking organisations, and organised crime groups, using covert operations and surveillance to disrupt illicit activities.
The report also identifies firearm investigations and forensic capabilities, as well as community engagement and intelligence gathering, as further tactics.
It revealed that the firearm investigations and forensic capabilities will involve firearm tracing, ballistic analysis, and forensic techniques to link weapons to crimes, strengthen prosecutions, and track supply chains.
“Crime mapping, risk assessment, and predictive analytics are utilised to identify high-risk areas and crime trends,” the report said.
Community engagement and intelligence gathering, according to the document, focus on building public trust and cooperation through community policing, neighbourhood watch programmes, and outreach initiatives, in order to gather intelligence, prevent crime, and promote firearm safety.
The survey also gave significant consideration to drug-related activities, which are recognised as some of the main enablers of firearm offences.
It said: “The Barbados Police Service has continued its efforts to disrupt and dismantle the proliferation of illegal drugs within communities in Barbados. These initiatives have been strategically focused on addressing the issues related to drug trafficking, with the main objective of preventing the distribution of these illegal drugs within the neighbourhoods around the country.
“During the period 2022 to 2024, there was a fluctuation in drug-related cases, with 1 202 cases in 2022, 1 003 cases in 2023, and 1 129 cases in 2024. There was a 16 per cent decrease in drug cases between 2022 and 2023, whilst there was a 13 per cent increase in drug cases between 2023 and 2024, with slight fluctuations in various drug-related crimes.”
The data show that cannabis remains the predominant illicit drug in Barbados, with offences related to its possession, trafficking, and intent to supply consistently accounting for a significant proportion of drug-related crimes.
The government report continued: “Between 2022 and 2023, there was a notable reduction in cannabis-related offences, as well as a decline in methamphetamine/ecstasy-related cases. However, cocaine-related offences increased during the same period, particularly in categories such as possession with intent to supply.
“In 2024, there was an increase in overall drug-related offences compared to 2023, with a total of 1 129 cases, reflecting a 12.6 per cent rise. This increase was largely driven by a resurgence in cannabis-related offences, reaffirming its continued prevalence as the most frequently trafficked and abused drug in Barbados. Cocaine-related offences also saw a further increase, warranting continued efforts to address drug trafficking and distribution networks.” (EJ)
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