Illegal firearm importers warned!

A SIGNAL has been sent to persons who illegally import guns and ammunition into St Vincent and the Grenadines in containers.

A new $US 2.7 million scanner which Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves referred to as a “magnificent” piece of equipment installed last Sunday, October 19,2025 at the Modern Port in Kingstown will be used to ferret out illegal weapons stashed away in containers.

“You know why we bought it? was the question that Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves asked the crowd at a Unity Labour Party (ULP) mass meeting on the Calliaqua Playing field.

“We have a problem with guns coming in in containers, and that scanner-and I want the man them who bringing in gun to hear methat scanner will be able to scan the container and will see everything which is inside ah the container. So you could try to hide it where you want to hide it, but the scanner…will be able to see the firearm to help to keep those guns off the street to protect people’s lives.”

The scanner was one of several pieces of new equipment transported to the Modern Kingstown Port, which is due to be offi cially opened on October, 25,2025.

On April 9, 2024 the police seized a quantity of illegal weapons and ammunition at the Campden Park Container Port. The Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) reported then that the cache included one .38 special revolver, and a comprehensive assortment of ammunition totalling 2,538 rounds covering various calibres. The police have been fighting a growing battle with illegal guns which are the preferred weapon used in homicides across the state. A gun amnesty last year intended to get illegal guns and ammunition from the hands of users, yielded little results.