Following the finding of six handguns, two high-powered rifles, and 200 rounds of ammunition at the Kingstown Customs Department on Thursday, the police opened an investigation and made one arrest.
The greatest single haul of firearms and ammunition seized by local authorities, according to Commissioner of Police Colin John, was brought into the nation. John made this statement during a news conference on Friday.
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John, who stated that the weapons “seem brand new,” was unable to predict when the inquiry would be finished.
“I cannot say at the moment because we do not know the scope of the investigation. We want to follow our leads and from there we will determine how long the investigation would take,” he noted.
“We know one of these bullets could have killed more than one person, based on the velocity of these bullets and these guns. So I am really happy that we were able to intercept these firearms.”
He claimed that the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) and the Customs Department worked together to make the seizure.
John said that because the weapons were imported, regional and international organizations would be called for assistance in the investigation.
John, a former deputy director of public prosecutions, also complimented the Customs Department employees for their attention to detail, their collaboration with law enforcement, and their support in the fight against crime.
“We have seen in the last couple of months and the last few days, I would say, the apparent use of firearms to commit some very serious offenses. We have to, as best as possible, try to reduce the number of firearms in St Vincent and the Grenadines and arrest perpetrators. So this, indeed, is a good effort on behalf of the RSVGPF.”
The police chief was speaking during a week when two individuals were shot and died and another two were shot and injured, bringing the total number of homicides to 39, just one short of the record.
The public was also asked by the police commissioner to support the police in their ongoing efforts to combat crime.