Guns destined for Jamaica intercepted in Miami

The guns seized at the Miami International Airport in Florida, United States that were destined for Jamaica. (Photo: CCU)
The guns seized at the Miami International Airport in Florida, United States that were destined for Jamaica. (Photo: CCU)

(Jamaica Observer) The Jamaica Constabulary Force and its law enforcement counterparts in the United States are now conducting a major investigation following the seizure of more than 100 illegal firearms at the Miami International Airport in Florida.

The guns and more than 200 assorted rounds of ammunition were destined for Jamaica, a release from the police’s Corporate Communica-tions Unit said yesterday.

The Jamaica Observer has since learnt that the guns were destined for Montego Bay, St James, the parish that has recorded more than 300 murders so far this year.

The guns and ammunition were discovered by US Customs and Border Protection (CBT) and Out-bound Enforcement Team (OET) at the US airport.

The police reported that the CBT and OET were conducting routine security screening at the airport on November 13 when two blue barrels and two cardboard boxes, which were listed as comprising household and food items, were found to contain 119 firearms and 267 assorted rounds of ammunition. Four rifles were among the weapons, with the other 115 being pistols.

The police say several accessories for firearms, including handgun backstraps, magazine parts, pistol grips, and buttstocks, were also seized.