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The United States has restated its commitment to supporting Antigua and Barbuda and other CARICOM countries in their fight against high rates of crime and violence fuelled by illicit firearms trafficking.
During a recent hybrid meeting attended by US partners and CARICOM Commissioners of Police, the issues were discussed, along with ways to enhance collaboration with the CARICOM Crime Gun Intelligence Unit (CGIU).
The goal is to not only stem the wave of firearms-related crimes across the Caribbean region but to successfully prosecute all those involved in the illicit firearms trade.
Trinidad and Tobago’s National Security Minister, Fitzgerald Hinds, expressed concern over the high incidence of gun-related crimes in the region.
He also noted that the Caribbean’s transshipment utility is being exploited by some territories, making it easier for illegal arms and ammunition trafficking to flourish.
Hinds commended the CGIU for its assistance in invesigating the perpetrators and co-conspirators of US-sourced weapons that are trafficked illegally into the region.
The US Assistant Secretary, US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Ambassador Todd D. Robinson, echoed Hinds’ sentiments, saying that Washington and Caribbean partners share a common goal of addressing the high rates of crime and violence fuelled by illicit firearms trafficking.
The US is prioritising investigations and prosecutions of firearms traffickers who actively endanger communities in both the US and the Caribbean. The INL intends to continue to support the CGIU, which has had a significant impact on real-time information sharing.
The US Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, Candace Bond, emphasised that illicit firearms trafficking remains a critical threat to the peace and stability of the Caribbean. It fuels violence and empowers criminal organisations, undermining collective efforts to promote safety and security for all.
To support the CGIU and its work in countering firearms and narcotics trafficking, the US donated a 75-inch interactive smartboard, 14 Samsung 27-inch monitors, and a four-year-old Belgian Malinois sniffer dog, trained to detect narcotics, firearms, and ammunition.
The CARICOM IMPACS Executive Director, Lt. Col. Michael Jones, explained the genesis of the CGIU and how it was established in partnership with the US INL as an innovative resource for the region, merging and fusing firearms data and information to provide actionable intelligence and insights.
In less than a year since its establishment, the CGIU has received information and intelligence on firearms seizures and recoveries from 15 CARICOM Member States and has launched at least 34 investigations.
Jones also highlighted the collaborative effort of the CGIU, which is staffed by seconded and vetted officers from CARICOM member states, working alongside several US agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).
The representatives of the CGIU delivered a presentation on its achievements to date, its efforts in Operation Hammerhead, as well as other regional investigations and prosecutions.
Overall, the meeting was a positive step towards strengthening cooperation and coordination between the US and CARICOM countries in their fight against the illicit firearms trade.
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