Supt. Steve McGreggor (second right) addresses members of the media during a press briefing following the seizure of eight guns and 1,090 assorted rounds of ammunition during a raid at Seaboard Jamaica warehouse at the Montego Freeport yesterday. Also in photo are (from left) corporals Camille Tracey and Peter Salkey, as well as Inspector Steve Brown, information officer for Operation Kingfish. - Claudine Housen/Staff Photographer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Two men are being interrogated in connection with the seizure of eight illegal firearms and 1,090 assorted rounds of ammunition found in cargo at the Seaboard Jamaica warehouse at the Montego Freeport yesterday.

"The St. James police, acting on information went to the warehouse and held on to these persons, who apparently went to clear the shipment that originated from the United States," said Supt. Steve McGreggor, head of the St. James Police Division.

"We have been monitoring the external ports (warehouses) in St. James, and this is what led to this operation."

Routine Check

The find, which is made up of four AK-47 rifles, one M16 rifle, a Ruger Carbine 44 rifle, one Glock 40 pistol and .357 Magnum, was made some time after 3:40 p.m., during a routine check of two barrels.

The Gleaner was told that the barrels, which were purported to have contained only motor vehicle parts, were addressed to persons residing in the parishes of St. Ann and St. James, respectively.

"From our initial investigations, we have found that most of the cargo is now being sent through the two external warehouses at Montego Freeport to avoid in-depth scanning palette machines," explained Superintendent McGreggor.

"Only items shipped straight to Port Handlers, the main warehouse, go through the X-ray machine."