Cops seize two high-powered rifles in Greenwich Town raid
THE police yesterday seized two illegal high-powered firearms and arrested a man during raids carried out in Greenwich Town, a tough community in the Jamaican capital city, Kingston.
The man, whose name was withheld, was not arrested in connection with the guns but was a suspect in a robbery earlier this year, according to Deputy Police Superintendent Cornwall ‘Bigga’ Ford, head of the Flying Squad.
Ford said that the guns – an AK47 assault rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun – were found in crocus bags in an abandoned building in the community.
The AK47 rifle, which appeared to have been repainted, was equipped with a finely sharpened bayonet.
Police said that they also recovered an empty magazine, capable of holding about 50 7.62mm rounds – the ammunition used in the AK47 rifle – in one of the bags.
“This morning’s operation, led by the Flying Squad and other units in the Jamaica Constabulary Force and members of the Jamaica Defence Force, was carried out in that community based on reports of a series of shooting incidents in the area. We searched several premises between 5:00 am and 8:00 am, during which both guns were recovered in an abandoned building,” said Ford.
Ford said that the firearms added to a haul of seven illegal guns seized in joint operations in the Corporate Area in the last three weeks.
Five persons, including a woman, have been arrested in connection with the seizures, Ford said.
“We have been successful in recovering a number of guns not only in the inner-city communities but also in upper St Andrew areas – places such as Barbican, Hope Pastures, etc. There are illegal guns in these communities too,” Ford said. “These five persons who were arrested in one of those communities are now before the court and we are looking to have them dealt with as soon as possible,” Ford said, adding that the guns seized were sent for ballistic examination.
Meanwhile, police in Kingston east, shortly after 6:00 am yesterday seized a .38 revolver at an abandoned premises in Rae Town. No one was arrested in connection with the find.
