One of two Jamaicans held on gun charges has been deported

Published
O’Neil Swaby of Bendals

PRESS STATEMENT

One of two Jamaicans held this week on gun charges has been deported, while the other, who pleaded guilty to gun and ammunition offenses, is on remand awaiting sentencing tomorrow in the All Saints Magistrate’s Court.

Magistrate Ngaio Emmanuel will on Friday hand down her sentence on Riccardo McKenzie, 28, a Jamaican residing at Sutherlands, after he pleaded guilty to possessing of a 9mm automatic pistol and seven rounds of ammunition in court on Wednesday.

The charges arose from an August 19 incident where police, acting on certain information, intercepted a vehicle in Green Castle, Bendals, and found the firearm and ammunition.

McKenzie and 34-year-old O’Neil Swaby were initially charged together, but Swaby pleaded not guilty, leading to the dismissal of charges against him.

However, following the dismissal of the case against him, Swaby was immediately taken into custody by Immigration Officials for violating the country’s immigration laws. He was subsequently ordered to be deported. He has since been returned to Jamaica.

The Immigration Department said it is cognizant of the concerns expressed by the Prime Minister Gaston Browne regarding non-nationals who find themselves involved in gun-related crimes and his preference to have these individuals deported when they are found to be in violation of the nation’s laws.

The Immigration Department said it is a policy that it is already implementing.

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This story was first published by Antigua News on : antigua.news/2024/08/22/one-of-two-jamaicans-held-on-gun-charges-has-been-deported. © 2024 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.

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Comments (11)

  • Troy August 22, 2024, 5:37 PM

    They need to jail them for long periods of time to set examples so the rest can see
    Reply
  • Joke town Antigua. August 22, 2024, 5:59 PM

    Why jail them here? Look at what you wrote dummy. It’s less strain on our economy if they’re deported.
    Reply
    • Donna August 22, 2024, 6:08 PM

      I agreed with your comment. Once they’re deported it would surely NOT be a strained on taxpayers for feeding and clothing another immigrant in prison. Gaston do your job, native born Antiguans and Barbudans comes first, then citizenry’s who are nationalized. Get rid of the criminal elements from the state. The space in our prison are for our own people.
      Reply
    • Faithful national August 22, 2024, 6:40 PM

      No need to resort to dumb behavior by insulting someone who merely offers an opinion that does match your own.
      Reply
  • Kayla August 22, 2024, 6:04 PM

    righty done
    Reply
  • Evelyn August 22, 2024, 6:06 PM

    tomorrow sentence need to be a message
    Reply
  • Raul August 22, 2024, 6:06 PM

    To much foreigners doing crime in our country
    Reply
    • Donna August 22, 2024, 6:13 PM

      The saddest part is when our own joined with them. Native born, it’s your country of birth and you need to take care of it not destroying it. It’s your children and grandchildren future. Don’t it hard and expensive for the next generation to rebuild our beautiful country when you joined with foreigners and destroyed it. Use your brain and stand up for your country.
      Reply
  • Ketch and cuff August 22, 2024, 6:09 PM

    A facial recognition camera needs to be set up in immigration to recognize the faces of many returning deportees.
    Reply
    • Looking on August 22, 2024, 6:31 PM

      Very true. Alot of these deportees slip through the cracks and get back in.
      Reply
  • Donna August 22, 2024, 8:49 PM

    I would love to see he actually goes on the plane.
    Reply

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