Questions grow over unprecedented illegal firearms seizure in Jamaica
Source: The Guardian
Questions grow over unprecedented illegal firearms seizure in Jamaica
Ministers tight-lipped over discovery of 233 guns and 40,000 rounds of ammunition that could ‘arm a small army’
Natricia Duncan and Anthony Lugg in Kingston
Mon 9 Jun 2025 12.00 BST
Last modified on Mon 9 Jun 2025 17.22 BST
Jamaicans are seeking answers after officials revealed a massive illegal firearms seizure described by experts as the largest in the country’s history, with enough guns and ammunition to “arm a small army”.
More than a week after the police and customs said they had intercepted 233 illegal rifles and handguns and more than 40,000 rounds of ammunition, the government has remained tight-lipped about the details of the find, arguing that revealing more information would hamper a sensitive cross-border investigation into their origin and the identity of those involved.
According to unconfirmed local reports, the guns and ammunition were discovered inside an industrial-sized water heater at a warehouse in the country’s capital, Kingston.
Announcing the seizure in a hastily organised press conference, the deputy prime minister and minister of security, Horace Chang, told journalists that the operation was “reported a bit early”. Chang refused to give details of the operation, telling reporters that “the more we talk about it, the less likely we are to find” those responsible, adding: “In fact, too much information [has] already gone out.”
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/09/questions-grow-over-unprecedented-firearms-seizure-in-jamaica
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