Guns, Gangs, and Governments: The Caribbean's Fight Against Illegal Arms
Guns Flooding the Caribbean
In the Caribbean, guns are flowing in like a river, and governments are scrambling to plug the leaks. Recently, US authorities caught a shipment of canned goods heading to Dominica, but instead of food, they found a stash of handguns, magazines, and ammo. This isn't just a one-time thing; it's part of a bigger problem. Organized crime groups are sending illegal weapons all over the Caribbean, making places like Guyana, Suriname, Jamaica, The Bahamas, Haiti, and Belize more dangerous.
The US as the Main Source
The US is the main source of these guns, with Florida, Georgia, New York, and Maryland being the top spots where criminals get their hands on them. Up to 73% of the weapons seized in the Caribbean can be traced back to the US, with Florida leading the pack. This has regional governments worried, and they're teaming up with US law enforcement to tackle the issue. Some countries, like The Bahamas, Antigua, Trinidad, Jamaica, Belize, and St. Vincent, are even suing American gun manufacturers, but the Supreme Court threw out the case last summer.
Dominica's Struggle
Take Dominica, for example. Between January and mid-June last year, police there seized at least 60 guns, including powerful AR-15 rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammo. They found out that some of these guns were hidden in food and other shipments as far back as 2021. That's a lot of guns for a small island. Regional leaders are calling violence a public health crisis, linking it to threats against democracy and societal stability. They're urging the US to step up and help in this fight.
Haiti's Arms Trafficking
Meanwhile, in Haiti, things are heating up. The US mission there announced indictments for two Florida-based Haitian brothers who were illegally shipping weapons to the Dominican Republic, presumably to send them over to Haiti. Police seized 18 rifles, five handguns, magazines, and over 36,000 rounds of ammo from a container headed to the DR. And between mid-2025 and early 2025, the brothers bought 46 more rifles, including two high-powered, armor-piercing .50-caliber rifles.
Trinidad's Success
But it's not all bad news. In Trinidad, authorities report a massive reduction in violent crime, cocaine, and weapons smuggling. They credit the Trump administration's attacks on alleged drug smuggling and other boats, saying the military presence has disrupted the supply chain from nearby Venezuela and other South American nations. Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar and Security Minister Roger Alexander noted a major drop in murders, thanking the US for their partnership.
Barbados' Response
In Barbados, the government is moving to introduce domestic terrorism legislation following several mass shooting incidents. The latest happened earlier this month when 10 people disembarking from a leisure cruise were injured by gunfire. Prime Minister Mia Mottley says it's time to move past simple murder and aggravated assault charges and up the ante to terrorism.
