BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth — The parish police this week recovered an AK 47 assault rifle, and arrested two persons on firearm and ganja charges, during operations on Brigade Street, Black River.

The two are Junior “King Lion” Hamilton, 44, of Peacock Heights, Black River; and Joyce Maxwell, 46, higgler, of Flamstead Gardens, St James.

The police report that at about 5:00 pm on Monday, a team of detectives, led by Detective Sergeant Donovan Forbes of the Black River CIB, carried out a search of premises on Brigade Street. Hamilton occupied the premises.

The officers said that during the search, a Chinese-made AK 47 assault rifle was found in a room at the rear of the building. The firearm, which was wrapped in black plastic, was reportedly found behind a cupboard along with an empty magazine, capable of holding 50 7.67 calibre rounds. The police also found a small quantity of ganja in the room.

Maxwell, the police said, was found in the room which contained the weapon. Both persons were arrested and charged with illegal possession of a firearm, as well as possession of, and dealing in marijuana.

According to an officer at the Black River CIB, the weapon, which can fire up to 50 rounds per minute, has an effective range of three miles.

The rifle is the second illegal firearm recovered in the parish since the start of the month. The first was a German Luger pistol, containing five live rounds of ammunition, which was taken from three men who were held during a spot check near the St Elizabeth/Westmoreland border last weekend.