Fitz Bailey, deputy commissioner of police in charge of the crime portfolio, vigorously defended the investigative prowess of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) regarding firearms and narcotics, warning Jamaicans not to believe the process is simple as seen on television’s drama/mystery series, Crime Scene Investigations (CSI).
The deputy commissioner spoke on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at the Jamaica Constabulary Forces monthly press briefing.
Bailey and police commissioner, Major General Anthony Anderson, faced tough questions from journalists on why there are often no arrests when shipments of firearms and ammunition get seized at our ports.
Bailey responded by saying the police’s first focus in these cases is confiscating firearms while the investigations occur.
This is not CSI. People watch it and believe that what they see happens in the real world. Any law enforcement across the globe will tell you that firearms are among the most difficult control types of delivery. If we lose the firearms, we have to consider the risk involved. Do we risk allowing firearms to escape our grasp and then become a threat to the nation?”
DCP Bailey
When asked whether there were any arrests in the recent seizure at the ports of 59 firearms -handguns and high-powered rifles- that occurred on Friday, February 3, 2023, in Montego Bay, St James. And the January seizure of 22 guns at the Seaboard Warehouse in Montego Bay. Bailey said:
“There has not been any arrest relating to those seizures. The investigation is ongoing. It is difficult to isolate both finds. We believe both finds are connected. We are following significant leads and will ultimately return to the public with good news.”
DCP Bailey
The senior cop also downplayed the arguments that the JCF does not have good relationships with its counterparts abroad.
“Most of those seizures were based on local intelligence and intelligence from our international partners. We have an excellent relationship with our international partners in sharing information about firearms and narcotics. Several of the seizures we have made resulted in arrests, and we have engaged our international partners, and we have had convictions in the United States of America.”
DCP Bailey
The DCP then gave the audience the chronological background of seizures that resulted in arrests and convictions at home and abroad. He mentioned Jermaine Rhoomes pled guilty following the recovery of six firearms in 2017. And also, Shadane Robinson, a Westmoreland gang leader residing in the USA, and several gang members were arrested following the seizure of 19 guns in 2017. The DCP said Robinson is doing time in the US. And he will get charged in Jamaica when he returns after his sentence abroad.