ACTING Police Commissioner Owen Ellington yesterday shot down claims that the number of guns seized from a house at Munster Road in East Kingston early Thursday morning was actually 60, and not 19 as reported by the police.

A visibly upset Ellington said the rumours were started by persons who are unhappy with the smashing of the gun-smuggling ring which involved a police sergeant.

“The number of guns seized is 19, not 60. It is hard to believe that some persons are not happy with what has taken place, and I am asking those persons, stop it now,” he said.

Ellington also signalled that he would throw the book at any member of staff at the police armoury and stores who was found to be in cahoots with the police sergeant and two groundsmen who are now behind bars.

The three, along with an East Kingston-based businessman, are being interrogated by top level sleuths after the recovery of the weapons — 10,600 rounds of ammunition — and a quantity of police vests early Thursday morning.

The guns and ammunition were stolen from the police armoury.

They were among 11 persons taken into custody. Seven have since been questioned and released while police investigators have taken 15 statements.

“Our investigations are being conducted with a view of taking criminal action where it is appropriate, and serious departmental action where that is appropriate,” Ellington said during a press conference at his office yesterday.

The acting commissioner ordered the armoury closed immediately after news of the massive arms find broke.

M16 assault rifles, Uzi sub-machine guns, shotguns, pistols and revolvers were among the weapons seized. Police also seized $787,000 in cash from the Munster Road house where the guns were found and from the business place of the owner of the premises.

The full staff complement at the armoury and stores, which is located at the Kingston East Divisional Headquarters at Elletson Road, has been taken off duty and was yesterday ordered to take polygraph tests.

The staff were also questioned by detectives at the Anti-Corruption Branch.

Ellington also said the constabulary had capable members to man the armoury when he decides to reopen it. However, he warned that prospective workers for the armoury will be vetted and screened before being placed in that sensitive area.

At the very moment Ellington was addressing members of the media, forensic experts were scouring the armoury for clues. After they were through, the Inspectorate of the constabulary, led by the Deputy Commissioner Charles Scarlett, was scheduled to conduct an audit of the inventories.

An audit of the armoury and stores was carried out early last year, Ellington said.

All of the firearms that were seized have been sent to the Forensic Laboratory for testing.

Ellington did not disclose whether or not the guns seized were taken from a stock of weapons which were designated for destruction after they were taken out of the system.

Police have, in the last five years, destroyed over 5,000 weapons.

The involvement of a police sergeant has caused embarrassment for the honest members of the force and has raised questions about security procedures at the armoury.

But Ellington tried to calm fears by saying the system at the armoury was intact, rather it was the human element that failed.

“Despite the concerns that exist out there about a possible breach and collusion between members of staff for weapons and ammunition in storage to get into the public domain, the security procedures at the armoury and stores are adequate for the guidance of honest and responsible people,” he said. “This is a breach of trust and severe lapse in terms of people’s attention to duty.”