Guns smuggled into Antigua sometimes arrive disassembled.-Atlee Rodney

Police in Antigua and Barbuda are scrambling to keep pace with criminals who are coming up with creative ways to supply the country’s black market with firearms.

Police Commissioner Atlee Rodney said over the weekend that some of these firearms are being smuggled into the country disassembled.

“Weapons come incomplete. Some of them come in parts. They are not assembled. You may not find an entire pistol. You may see a barrel, a trigger guard and then they [criminals] assemble it. When they get here, they are assembled. People are becoming creative…” Rodney said over the weekend

Gun-related crimes have been on a steady incline in Antigua and Barbuda over several years

The latest known gun-related crime involved the death of Roudi Shmaly, a Syrian national who was shot in broad daylight during a robbery at the Pick N Mix superette.

“Last year over 600 rounds of ammunition were confiscated in a single operation. We intercepted 15 firearms, some at the port and others from intelligence,” Rodney said

The Top Cop says law enforcement in Antigua and Barbuda is also working in close collaboration with regional forces to curb illegal entry of guns into the Caribbean.

Antigua and Barbuda is partnering with the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) and MAG in a program to destroy seized weapons, ammunition, and explosives and reduce their devastating impact on human safety and security.

Meanwhile, Rodney said gun-related crimes continue to significantly impact the country’s health sector

“Trinidad and Tobago gave us a figure of $40,000.00 to treat one gunshot wound. What happens when you have several people in that situation? It is a load you are placing on the hospital,” Rodney said

Rodney is also supporting making amendments to existing laws to curb the use of guns for criminal activities.

“There is a need for improvement in the whole legislation. I think the AG had indicated some time ago that he needs to look at some amendments to some of that legislation and that might be one of the things I would say is on the front burner”, Rodney said

Of the ten homicides in 2022, eight were gun related.