Large Quantity of Firearm and Ammunition Seized in Dominica

The Firearms Investigative Unit is currently conducting investigations into the importation of a large quantity of firearms and ammunition into the state.

Acting Chief of Police Lincoln Corbette made the disclosure during a press conference held on Monday.

“This unit comprises members of the Domestic Police Force, Customs, FIU, among other government organizations,” he said.

According to Corbette, due to the ongoing investigation into this matter he won’t go into detail for obvious reasons.

However, he revealed that during the period January 23rd of this year to June 14th of this year, a total of 42 firearms and 220 rounds of ammunition were intercepted at the ports of entry in Dominica.

“Among those firearms include two assault type rifles, AR-15s,” he revealed. “These basically are weapons of war. It is equivalent to the M16 that’s carried by soldiers in war.”

Furthermore, Corbette said for the year so far, in addition to what was intercepted, “we have intercepted seven additional firearms and 69 rounds of ammunition from the hands of suspected criminals. So we have 42 at the port and seven doing our own local investigations on the island.”

“ So that brings us to 49 firearms and 289 rounds of ammunition that have been removed from the hands of criminals,” he stated. Those weapons could have found themselves pointed at anybody in the state and they’re no longer available to criminals to use to commit those all-out acts.”

Corbette went on to add that these seizures have led to the arrest of 21 individuals for possession of firearms and trafficking of firearms.

“Out of these 21 individuals, seven people have been convicted and fined at the court while the other matters are pending trial at the court,” he explained.

Corbette said for the past two weeks the CDPF have ramped up their operations on the streets, doing house searches among others.

“These operations will continue to ensure that we can rid the streets of illegal firearms,” he noted. “Our mandate continues and I wish again to warn these people who may be in possession of firearms without a license. Take my warning seriously, we ask you to surrender those firearms to the police, to a priest or somebody that you have confidence in that you handed over to the police.”

He added, “Do not keep the firearms at your home because we will be coming, we will be searching and by now you should realize it could be anywhere we’ll come for it. No exceptions, we will be searching, breaking down doors if we have to, to ensure that we rid the streets of illegal firearms.”

He called on every citizen in Dominica to support the police in that regard.

“If you know of a firearm, someone who has a firearm, please report it to the police,” Corbette advised. “You must have an officer that you can speak with in confidence to report it to the police.”

He said reports of illegal firearms can also be made to Crimestoppers at 1-800-TIPS or 1-800-8477.

Meanwhile, Corbette also called upon the parents who are aware that their children are harboring those firearms, that they have those firearms on the premises, “ask them to surrender firearms to the police. Ask them to surrender to the police, to give it up. Because when we come, a lot of times people are not very happy. But, we have to do what we have to do. And if it means that we will take down the front door or the back door or the side of a house, we have to do it. But to prevent that from happening, please surrender the firearms.”

“ Do not get yourself involved in trafficking firearms or being in possession of firearms without a valid license,” he warned.