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Illegal firearms seized in police operation in Dominica
Law enforcement authorities in Dominica have seized 49 illegal firearms and 289 rounds of ammunition so far this year, leading to the arrest of 21 individuals in connection with firearm possession and trafficking.
The seizures include high-powered assault rifles intercepted at ports across the island as part of an intensified crackdown on the illegal arms trade.
Acting Police Commissioner Lincoln Corbette revealed the figures during a press conference on Monday, confirming that 42 of the firearms and 220 rounds of ammunition were intercepted at ports of entry between January 23 and June 14, 2025. Among them were two AR-15 assault rifles.
“These rifles are weapons of war, equivalent to the M-16 as carried by soldiers,” Corbette told reporters.
In addition to the port seizures, police recovered seven more firearms and 69 rounds of ammunition from suspects across the island. Corbette noted that of the 21 people arrested, seven have already been convicted, while the remaining cases are pending in court.
The police chief also confirmed that investigations are ongoing into the importation of a larger cache of weapons and ammunition, led by a multi-agency Firearms Investigative Unit comprising members of the Dominica Police Force, Customs, and the Financial Intelligence Unit.
National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore addressed the broader implications, acknowledging the presence of an organized gun-running network operating in the region.
“Certainly, there is a syndicate and the origin of which we are committed to dismantle,” Blackmoore said. “Working in concert with our regional and international law enforcement agencies, we shall continue to do that.”
He added that the recent interceptions are evidence that surveillance and security systems implemented at ports are proving effective.
The minister disclosed that the government has invested approximately EC$2.7 million in advanced scanners installed at all ports of entry and is providing ongoing training to local officers to enhance firearm tracing capabilities.
In a direct message to the public, Blackmoore urged individuals in possession of illegal weapons to surrender them and warned of the consequences for those who refuse.
According to Blackmoore, trafficking in illegal firearms carries a potential sentence of 35 years in prison or a fine of EC$700,000. He called on communities, schools, churches, and other civic bodies to take a more active role in addressing the issue.
“The onus is on us to do what we have to do,” he said.
Authorities say they remain resolute in their mission to dismantle the illegal firearms network and are encouraging citizens to report suspicious activity.
