Police in St. Vincent and the Grenadines have launched an investigation after they intercepted over 2,000 rounds of ammunition, a firearm and firearm cleaning kits at Campden Park Container Port, on Tuesday, iWitness News was reliably informed.
Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Ralph Gonsalves alluded to the cache on NBC Radio on Wednesday and warned people about having packages sent in their names.
The cache was found as the authorities have installed scanning equipment at the port, where 90% of containerised cargo arrives in the country.
The equipment allows border security agencies, including the Port Authority and Customs, to scan packages without opening them.
iWitness News understands that police, acting on information, went to the port and searched some packages where “a large number of ammunition of varying types” along with a pistol and firearm cleaning kits were intercepted.
A source told iWitness News that the ammunition amounted to “over 2,000 rounds”.
The discovery comes six days after lawmakers approved stiffer penalties for firearm offences, including the illegal importation of firearms and ammunition.
The new penalties are expected to come into effect at the end of an amnesty that runs March 1 to May 31.
Also, police made the find even as they are yet to lay any charges in connection with the December 2022 interception of six 9mm pistols, two high-power rifles and 200 rounds of 7.62 ammunition at the Customs Department in Kingstown, representing the largest such bust in the country.
Those items were secreted in vehicle transmissions and the investigation, while not having led to an arrest, linked one of the firearms to a killing in the United States, authorities in Kingstown have said.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Gonsalves warned the public not to allow “any and anybody to send a box or barrel for you. “And if you don’t know what somebody going to put in a box or a barrel, don’t let them send it for you,” he said.
“And when somebody asks you that Mavis or Jonathan sending a barrel for them or a box but they wouldn’t be in the country if they could put it in your name and clear it for them, I’m advising you to be careful.”
Gonsalves informed the public of the operation of the scanning equipment at the Campden Park Container Port.
“We have a sophisticated scanner established there now. And we can see the guns coming in here. We can see what you’re bringing in even before the box is opened or the barrel…”
The prime minsiter said some people “try to conceal some things in some very clever ways, which a manual search many not pick up”.
The government is in the process of installing such a scanner at Port Kingstown, he further stated.
“I’m making a general point. I ain’t calling anybody’s name in relation to anything. But you know that I’ve given out this piece of advice because I know down to yesterday what was discovered. And some innocent people could get into trouble by not being careful,” Gonsalves said.
“The world’s a different world and we live in a dangerous neighbourhood. Well, same thing happens when somebody asks you if you can take something for them up.
“Well, nobody asked me if I can take anything … because I packed my suitcase. Or if somebody packs it for me, I check it. My handbag, I personally pack it. You have to be so careful,” the prime minister said.
Somebody somewhere wants to start civil war among associated groups in the country. The authorities need to make it easier for law abiding citizens to obtain licences for firearms. This in the long run would stymie the demand for illegal firearms. It’s also time to consider allowing upstanding citizens to get training in proper usage and storage of guns and ammunition. Let’s face it….guns are not going to disappear from the hands of killers just like weed is not going to disappear from the pockets of our young men. Come to think of it, I believe medical marijuana was given a green light because the authorities understood they were fighting a battle they had already lost if they continued to prosecute everyone who had weed in their possession. That’s a lesson we must apply to illegal guns in our country. And sooner rather than later eh.
The cover-up has begun.
How many many got pass by before this? only Heaven knows. What name on this one? very frightening.
You are absolutely right!! It’s up to the authorities to listen though!