Federal authorities in the United States have uncovered an alleged gun-smuggling operation that funneled firearms and ammunition into Dominica using shipments falsely labeled as food and clothing.

According to federal court documents, investigators intercepted a package that arrived in Dominica marked as containing clothes. Instead, authorities reportedly discovered six firearms with obliterated serial numbers, 13 magazines, and 150 rounds of ammunition concealed inside.

A second shipment, labeled as canned food and intercepted in South Florida before reaching the island, allegedly contained six 9mm handguns and 12 magazines. Both packages were traced back to an Orlando-based shipping company.

Court records indicate that employees at the shipping company identified the individual who dropped off the packages, leading investigators to Kenny James Phillip, a Central Florida resident now facing federal charges for firearms smuggling.

Documents further reveal that Phillip has a history of illegal gun possession in Dominica and was living in the United States as a fugitive at the time of the alleged offenses.

Speaking on the wider issue, defense attorney Rajan Joshi noted that Caribbean islands remain a major target for illegal firearms trafficking due to strict gun laws and high demand. He said access to weapons in the United States makes it easier for traffickers to illegally move guns into the region.

The case has raised renewed concerns about the flow of illegal firearms into Dominica and the wider Caribbean, where authorities continue to grapple with gun-related crime linked to international smuggling networks.