Soldier arrested after illegal guns, ammo found at army HQ

A 23-year-old Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) private was arrested Sunday after two guns, an imitation firearm, and more than 50 rounds of assorted ammunition were reportedly found in a motor vehicle driven by the accused at Up Park Camp.

The accused, who is of a Commodore address in Linstead, St Catherine, is facing multiple charges for breaches of the Firearms Act.

Reports are that the private, who is attached to army’s Up Park Camp headquarters, was driving a black Toyota Allion, when it was stopped and a search was requested.

The soldier was asked to open the trunk and one Bergan kit bag was taken from the trunk and searched by a sergeant and personnel.

The search reportedly yielded one black Browning 9mm pistol with a magazine containing one round, and a black Smith and Wesson firearm containing a magazine with five 9mm cartridges.

Further checks unearthed one black toy imitation pistol, as well as two Glock magazines, one containing (24) 9mm cartridges and the other (25) 9mm cartridges.

Seventeen 5.56 blank rounds, six 5.56 live rounds, one black taser gun, one black binoculars, one laser flashlight with charger, two black infrared lasers with two attachments, one black combat knife and one black pistol holster were also reportedly found.

JDF, JCF COLLABORATION

Reports are that one black handcuff with key, one black rifle scope, pistol sight containing 10 Allen key with screw, one pepper spray, one red dot optic sight, one pair of black gloves and six used plastic gloves were also seized.

A report was subsequently made to the police.

The suspect is detained at the JDF headquarters.

In a release on Monday, the JDF said it was collaborating with the Jamaica Constabulary Force on the matter. It did not state that it was a service member who was at the centre of the probe.

When visiting Up Park Camp, members of the general public are subjected to routine vehicular search upon entering and exiting.

Meanwhile, on February 15, 2020, two M16 rifles were discovered missing from the armoury at Up Park Camp.

The army base was shut down as soldiers carried out an intense search for the missing rifles.

Former Chief of Defence Staff Lieutenant General Rocky Meade said on June 14, 2020 that two persons were to face disciplinary procedures and the rifles were still not found. The army has not updated the public on that matter since.

Up to press time last night, there was no response from the JDF to questions submitted by The Gleaner on Monday.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to make it clear that the Bergan kit bag was not issued by the Jamaica Defence Force.