Two men are expected to appear before the court next week after police laid multiple firearm and ammunition charges following operations carried out in Freetown and Collins on Wednesday morning.

The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda said the arrests were made during ongoing efforts to crack down on illegal weapons and gun-related crimes across the country.

One of the accused, Cavel Brown of Freetown, was charged with Unlawful Possession of a Modified Flare Gun and Unlawful Possession of three rounds of 9mm ammunition. Police said the alleged offences occurred around 4:05 a.m. during an operation in the Freetown area.

In a separate operation, officers arrested and charged 45-year-old Twini Payne of Collins with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, specifically a Taurus G25 9mm pistol, along with Unlawful Possession of a Magazine and Unlawful Possession of three rounds of 9mm ammunition.

Police have not disclosed further details surrounding either seizure, but said operations targeting illegal firearms remain ongoing.

Law enforcement officials are continuing to appeal to members of the public to assist in the fight against gun violence by sharing information related to illegal weapons and suspicious activity.

Anyone with information relating to illegal firearms is being urged to contact the Criminal Investigations Department at 462-3913 or call the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline at 800-TIPS (8477).