A Deep Dive Into Illegal Firearms Confiscated And It’s Related Crimes

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NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS – Earlier this week, The Bahamas hosted an illegal firearms trafficking workshop for the region, in collaboration with CARICOM IMPACS.

And tonight, we take a deep dive into the numbers, how gun violence has led to crime over the years, and the exact amount of illegal guns and ammunitions that have been taken off our streets.

Our Joshua Williams tells us more.

This week regional stakeholders from CARICOM countries have been meeting with local authorities to deal with illegal firearm trafficking that’s not only plagued the country, but, the region for decades.

Crime stats from last year show that between 64-77% of murders came as a result of gun violence.

In fact, there were 1,008 gunshot reports, direarms were used in the commission of 64 homicides and fatal gunshot wounds remain the leading cause of death in these matters.

366 firearms and 11,238 rounds of ammunition were discovered leading to over a thousand arrests and related charges.

It’s a problem that doesn’t seem to be getting better, and National Security Minister, Myles Laroda, says the training is necessary for officers to help curb the violence firearms bring.

“Operational officers working through a real case involving a character member state with the GGRU and training and serial number restoration which is the forensic technique that turns a weapon someone tried to race back into evidence that can convict HSI will walk our offices through investigative techniques along with control deliveries and shipping documentation that expose a trafficking network before the firearm ever reaches Bahamian Street” – Myles Laroda

In fact, police released their mid year stats for this year, just recently. 129 illegal guns were removed from our streets, with over 300 rounds of ammunition confiscated.

And it’s not just here in The Bahamas – countries like Haiti, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago are also plagued with crime as a result of gun violence.

With this in mind, regional leaders from CARICOM are also looking to curb the violence in their respective countries.

The body sending its Deputy Executive Director to join in with the conference.

“Members states have been very dedicated in their approach to addressing the proliferation of legal firearms and that members, including the Commonwealth of Bahamas, have taken a number of steps which include more cooperation, nationally regionally and internationally, and I believe the Hon of a Minister mentioned the firearms roadmap which CARICOM IMPACS and UN direct and the Bahamas has been working asidously to achieved the goals that they have settled in national action plan” – Tonya Ayow