Three firearms and several rounds of ammunition have so far been seized by the police since the start of the New Year. The firearms were seized in separate incidents as lawmen continue intensified operations across the island.

In the first incident, about 12:01 a.m. on January 1, a homemade shotgun with five rounds of ammunition were seized on Casino Drive in Naggo Head, St Catherine. The police were on duty in the area when a man ran on seeing them; he dropped the firearm as he fled.

Minutes later, about 12:15 a.m. in Glendevon, St. James, three persons – including teenaged boy –were apprehended following the seizure of a .45 pistol and seven rounds of ammunition. Reports from the Montego Hills Police are that a group of persons were seen along a roadway who ran as they approached. The lawmen subsequently apprehended three of them and seized the weapon. Their identities are being withheld pending further investigations.

In the third incident, a semi-automatic submachine gun was seized about 12:40 a.m., during a joint police/military operation in Dempshire Pen, St Catherine. Members of the security forces were on operation when a location was searched and the firearm found among debris. No arrest was made.