By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff ReporterA MULTI-MILLION dollar shipment of guns and ammunition that was destined for the streets of Portland, was intercepted on Monday during an intelligence-driven operation at Berth 5, Kingston Wharf.
While the police and customs officials are tight-lipped about the find, reports are that the cache includes five brand new semi-automatic pistols, three high-powered rifles, two shotguns and an AK-47 rifle, plus 85 assorted rounds of ammunition.
This was confirmed yesterday by two senior officers from the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB).
The Gleaner was reliably informed that customs officials and the police had put in place strategies to arrest person(s) coming to clear the barrel and carton box in which the weapons and ammunition were packed. They were processed as personal effects.
The guns were sent from New York to Portland where the cocaine industry has been booming.
ATTEMPTS TO TRACE GUNS
An informed source in the Customs Department said the serial number of the weapons had already been noted and attempts are now being made to trace the guns back to their original owners in the United States.
As customary, the particulars of the guns will be sent to one of the 22 agents of the United States Department of Homeland Security, who would conduct further investigations from that end.
Over the past four years, at least three persons have been arrested locally and charged with the illegal importation of firearms and ammunition, as a result of collaborative efforts between law enforcement agents in the U.S. and Jamaica.
Reports are that following the seizure, National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips held a high-level meeting yesterday to discuss the circumstances under which contraband almost slipped through the system where multimillion-dollar X-ray equipment have been installed since last month. The X-ray machines are supposed to scan all barrels, containers, pellets and packages coming into the island.
