By Clinton McGregor
Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey is pushing back at critics who have argued that the police are not making enough arrests in connection with the entry of illegal guns into the island.
More than 80 illegal guns were recently seized at the Montego Freeport wharf in two shipments over a seven-day period.
Speaking at Jamaica Constabulary Force press briefing on Tuesday, DCP Bailey said there has not yet been any arrest for these seizures but the police believe the two shipments are connected.
While he did not want to reveal much more on the investigation, he said the police are following "significant leads" and will eventually share the results with the public.
On the weekend, former Ambassador Curtis Ward, who represented Jamaica at the UN Security Council, called for the local police to share more information on whether they are making arrests in connection with major gun finds.
Ambassador Ward also argued that US law enforcement was reluctant to share intelligence with the Jamaican police.
But this assertion was dismissed by DCP Bailey, who said the US and local authorities have collaborated on a number of investigations which have even led to people being convicted.
"In 2017, nineteen firearms were recovered. And coming out of that, we did an investigation in Westmoreland where a number of gang members were arrested as well. Shadane Robinson, one of the gang leaders, who...resides in the United States, based on our collaboration with our international partners, he was arrested and charged, and convicted and sentenced to 30 months imprisonment," the senior cop pointed out.
According to DCP Bailey, Robinson will also be charged under the new Firearms Act when he is deported from the United States.
