BLACK RIVER, St. Elizabeth:
SUPERINTENDENT OF Police in charge of the St. Elizabeth Division, Herman Brown, says that the allegation that a number of illegal guns were being circulated in the parish was under intense probe by his office.
He said that one homemade gun was found in the parish last week.
According to Mr. Brown, in recent times there have been allegations that illegal guns were entering the relatively quiet parish, where the murder rate stood at less than 10 for the entire year. He also noted that the police are watching some particular communities in which random searches will take place.
"We are not going to let up on this one," he said. "We are not going to tolerate any illegal weapons coming in to take over the parish, so everything will be done to investigate this matter thoroughly".
On the matter of illegal drugs, Mr. Brown explained that the police were still struggling to deal with it in the parish. He also noted that currently personnel from the Narcotics Division were in the parish to provide some needed support to the police officers on the ground in the fight against drugs.
In an earlier interview with The Gleaner on August 9, Deputy Superintendent in charge of administration at the Black River station E.W. McIntosh said, "what is needed now to help in the fight against the enemy (illegal drugs) are more resources such as electronic surveillance and personnel with the required expertise".
The deputy superintendent also said that it was important that the St. Elizabeth police receive adequate help to patrol the coastline effectively. This includes areas such as Black River, Treasure Beach, Fort Charles and Alligator Pond.
