‘Ghost guns’ a ‘serious concern’ for police

he rise of untraceable weapons and advanced technologies such as 3D printing has added a new layer of complexity to law enforcement efforts, but police say they remain committed to addressing the issue and ensuring the safety of the public and its officers.

Inspector Dwayne Cumberbatch of the Barbados Police Service, during a press conference on Sunday, spoke candidly about the challenges the police force has faced in tackling firearm-related crimes over the past year.

He explained that numerous firearms had been recovered, saying, “These are some of the firearms that were actually recovered over the past year. They were actually seized during events like parties, search warrants, as well as vehicle stops and street searches.”

He further detailed the types of firearms seized, stating, “Pistols, 9mm, .40 calibre pistols, revolvers, as well as we got a few rifles. The rifle that you actually saw is an AK-47 rifle.”

A particularly concerning development for law enforcement has been the appearance of 3D-printed firearm parts. The inspector noted, “Well, that is basically a new challenge, so to speak. We actually recovered that printer at a search warrant as well as the bottom half of the receivers for the firearms.”

While 3D printers are not prohibited, he noted, “The printers as such are not prohibited, but… we actually traced or tracked persons that are actually important enough to see if they are actually being used to make such like the same receivers for the firearms.”

Cumberbatch acknowledged that while the issue is not yet a major problem, it could escalate, depending on how 3D printing technology is utilised. “At this stage, I can’t say it is a major problem as yet, but you can see that … some persons may have money in terms of bringing in the printers.”

He suggested that future regulation may be necessary. “Well, I think depending on the nature of the person bringing them in, there may be some sort of regulation put in place at the force when you see two or three printers being bought for the same person.”

One of the key issues surrounding these 3D-printed weapons is traceability. He highlighted the difficulties posed by such firearms, noting, “They won’t be traceable at all because there are no serial numbers, nothing at all, so it’s virtually untraceable.”

Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Richard Boyce also weighed in on the issue, expressing his concern about the rise of so-called “ghost guns.” He explained, “First, let me pick up on the question that was asked in respect of 3D printers. That is a concern for us, I must say. It’s a policy discussion currently.” He acknowledged that ghost guns had already begun to appear on Barbadian shores, saying, “Yes, the ghost guns…for us already we have seen a couple on our shores, I must say.”

The top cop emphasised the seriousness of the issue, stating, “For us it is a serious concern because of the lack of traceability, one, and having to do the things that we would like to do in terms of cementing our investigations in such a way that we would get them off the streets and go after those persons who are engaging them.”

Boyce further explained the nature of ghost guns, saying, “Yes, it is just that it is missing certain marks, identification marks that can say, well, A made it, manufactured it, B bought it, and things like that. So, it leaves a blank trail that you really can’t follow.”

Addressing the broader issue of illegal firearms, Boyce reassured the public that the force was preparing for all eventualities.

He stated, “Yes, our men and women are being prepared for that. We are trying to get the best equipment for the safety and security of my officers, and we are making sure that we know what is the latest on the market.”

He further stressed the importance of acquiring high-quality equipment, noting, “When our advisors come and tell us, well, this quality is not up to the level that it should be, then the intervention is made whereby we can obtain the best equipment to protect our officers and give them that peace of mind.” (RG)