Dominica authorities on Monday pledged to dismantle a gun-smuggling network after police announced the seizure of nearly 50 firearms — including assault rifles — at the island’s ports since the start of 2025.
Acting Police Commissioner Lincoln Corbette revealed during a press briefing that the Firearms Investigative Unit is actively probing the importation of a significant cache of guns and ammunition into the country. The specialized unit, made up of officers from the police force, Customs, and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), is working alongside other government agencies to disrupt the flow of illegal arms.
“From January 23 to June 14, a total of 42 firearms and 220 rounds of ammunition were intercepted at the ports of entry into Dominica,” Corbette stated, noting that the haul included two AR-15 assault rifles — weapons he described as “equivalent to the M-16 as carried by soldiers.” An additional seven firearms and 69 rounds of ammunition were taken from suspected criminals on the streets, bringing the year-to-date total to 49 guns and 289 rounds.
“These seizures have led to the arrest of 21 individuals for possession and trafficking of firearms,” Corbette said. “Seven have already been convicted, and the rest await trial.”
National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore also addressed the media, declaring that authorities are collaborating with regional and international law enforcement partners to break up what he called a transnational gun-running syndicate.
“Certainly, there is a syndicate and the origin of which we are committed to dismantle,” Blackmoore said. “The coordination we have been able to do with our regional and international partners is working. The intelligence we have been able to cultivate is also very effective.”
Blackmoore highlighted recent investments aimed at curbing the illegal arms trade, including approximately EC$2.7 million spent on scanners now installed at all ports of entry. He said law enforcement officers are undergoing specialized training to trace weapons back to their sources.
Calling on the public to assist, Blackmoore urged residents to report suspicious activity and encouraged those in possession of illegal firearms to surrender them to authorities. He also chastised community members who obstruct police operations or turn a blind eye to unexplained wealth among young people.
“If your child comes home with a bike or expensive sneakers and doesn’t work anywhere, you should ask where they got the money from,” he said, emphasizing that the responsibility to stem gun violence rests with all sectors of society — from churches to schools to civic leaders.
The minister noted that Dominica recently conducted a gun amnesty programme, allowing people to turn in illegal firearms without fear of prosecution.
The crackdown comes amid growing concern over gun violence and organized crime in the Caribbean, with authorities under increasing pressure to keep weapons out of the hands of criminals.
