The gains outlined by the Jamaica Constabulary Force in a press conference by Commissioner Antony Anderson are highly commendable, both in the number of weapons seized and the reduction in the number of violent gun deaths.
However, the most significant takeaway from this is that the successes reaped by the JCF have been unquestionably intelligence-based, and of course, we have all seen the results.
Commissioner Anderson reported that since February 1st, 28 high-powered rifles had been seized by the JCF, and a total of 163 illegal firearms has been removed from the streets. He made the case that the number of weapons removed from the hands of criminals represents an increase of 37 percent over the corresponding period last year.
Anderson also bemoaned that 240 people have been reported killed since the start of the year.
There are a couple of takeaways that we should not sweep under the rug.
(1) As I said earlier, these are intelligence-based successes that cannot be attributed to massive amounts of security personnel standing around in volatile communities. You do not just start digging up riles and handguns from places in the ground unless someone tells you where to look.
There is a case to be made that there are distinct possibilities that intelligence can be gathered from just the presence of security personnel within the so-called Zones Of Special Operations (ZOSO).
To the extent that that can be true, it would be a strong case for more community policing.
(2) The police Commissioner spoke to the places the weapons were being retrieved from, and he outlined the role the Jamaica Customs Agency played in one recent weapons find.
Anderson said that on Monday, during a non-intrusive inspection process carried out in Montego Bay, St James, the Jamaica Customs Agency identified firearms hidden in a television set. They engaged the police, who subsequently seized two rifles, one submachine gun, four handguns, eight magazines, and 16 rounds of ammunition.
Though commendable, this is by far not nearly enough.
Every search done by the customs should be intrusive, only when the level of scrutiny of foreign goods entering the Island becomes extremely intrusive and comprehensive will those who would use our ports to send guns into the country desist from doing so.
I once again call on the Government to change the psyche of the Jamaica Customs and make it a law enforcement agency that is more focused on protecting the nation’s ports than the revenue focused-agency it currently is.
A competent law enforcement-focused Customs Agency will not only add to the workforce of the security apparatus by virtue of enhanced training and focus; it will inexorably increase revenue for the country because of less corruption.
(3) Our country requires immense human and material resources to effectively police our borders. We do not have those resources, but we can better ensure that the weapons arriving in the country through Customs are drastically reduced.
This brings me to the question of the shipments of weapons entering the Island hidden in televisions, refrigerators, and other household goods.
Why are the shippers of these goods in the United States and wherever they live not being arrested and prosecuted for these weapons finds?
Every person shipping merchandise to the Island ships through a shipper; the person must have an identity; why exactly are they not being arrested and prosecuted?
It is time that the government stop being a minor league player and step up to the plate. It is time for the Government to press the United States for greater coöperation in stemming the flow of guns into the Island.
No, not press, demand that the US use its vast resources to help stop the flow of American guns into Jamaica…
If the government cannot stop the flow of guns entering the country, no amount of effort by the security forces will make a difference through the recovery process.
There will always be more guns in the hands of criminals than the police can intercept. It is safe to say two or three more slips through for every shipment intercepted.
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Mike Beckles is a former Police Detective, businessman, freelance writer, black achiever honoree, and creator of the blog mikebeckles.com.