US Spends More Than $800 Million to Reduce Illegal Gun Trafficking in the Caribbean

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Candace Bon says Washington has pumped in excess of US$800 million to reduce illegal arms trafficking and increase public security in the region.

Bon, addressing the closing ceremony of a three-day Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) Firearms Technical Working Group meeting here, reiterated the need for closer collaboration among the various stakeholders in the Caribbean region.

“The United States values being a part of this important collective effort, which is an essential component of our partnership with CARICOM and the Dominican Republic to reduce illicit firearms trafficking, increase public safety and security, and promote social justice.

“It is only through international cooperation that we can effectively combat illicit firearms trafficking in the Caribbean.  The United States is committed to promoting partnership, cooperation, and collaboration with your countries and institutions by providing technical assistance programs to help develop the capacity to effectively address this common threat,” Bond said.

The diplomat said that the United States has invested over US$832 million in the Caribbean to reduce illicit firearms trafficking, increase public safety and security, and promote social justice.

“As part of this effort, we continue to coordinate law enforcement programs with each of your countries and we look forward to working with you to maximize U.S. investments in this area.  The United States has undertaken significant actions to address illicit firearms trafficking in the region.”

Bond said Washington’s commitment to stemming the illicit trafficking of firearms from the United States can be seen in landmark legislation recently passed and enforced to prevent gun violence and strengthen border security.

She said President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act on June 25, last year, which makes straw purchasing and trafficking in firearms a federal crime.

“This Act provided U.S. law enforcement agencies with new authorities to combat firearms trafficking along the U.S. border and elsewhere.  Provisions under the “Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act” assign further penalties if firearms or ammunition are smuggled out of the United States with intent to engage in or promote transnational organized crime. “

CARICOM leaders earlier this month ended a two-day regional symposium on violence as a public health issue, declaring a war on guns to combat the illegal trade which they said “provides the weapons that contribute significantly to crime and violence in our region”

In the Declaration titled “War on Guns” the regional leaders said they were also calling on the United States to joining the Caribbean in “our war on guns and urgently adopt and take action to stop the illegal exportation of firearms and ammunition into the Caribbean.

“We lament the disproportionate share of our national budges that we are compelled to allocate to measures to address crime, violence and national security as well as mental health and other health-related challenges that directly result from the illegal exportation of guns to our shores,” the regional leaders added.

But in her address, Ambassador Bond said the United States has been doing much to stem the illicit trafficking of guns and ammunition noting that the U.S. Congress allocated US$3.4 billion to modernize ports of entry on U.S. northern and southern borders supporting increased border security efforts and enhancing information sharing on illicit firearms trafficking.

“Together, this represents landmark legislation in the fight against illegal firearms trafficking.  Several U.S. government departments and agencies have also engaged in significant efforts to stem the illicit trafficking of firearms in the region.”

She said that the Department of Justice has created taskforces across the United States to disrupt criminal firearms-trafficking networks and is prioritizing prosecutions of those who are responsible for the greatest violence.

According to the US diplomat, the Department of State provided over eight million dollars to Caribbean countries for capacity-building programs over the past five years, which included activities related to illicit firearms trafficking, such as training on firearms-trafficking investigations, ballistic forensic training, stockpile management and destruction, marking and tracing of firearms.

She said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, or ATF, has assisted partner governments in law enforcement investigations by tracing recovered firearms and providing leads so law enforcement agencies in partner countries can link disparate criminal acts.

Bond said the US Customs and Border Protection also shares information on criminal activity, including firearms smuggling, with partner countries in the Americas.

“Together our countries have also taken critical collaborative action in creating the Caribbean Crime Gun Intelligence Unit or CCGIU.  In November 2022, the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) inaugurated the CCGIU to improve intelligence and information sharing among Caribbean and U.S. law enforcement agencies. ”

Bond said the CCGIU supports CARICOM Member States with seizing firearms, related parts, and components as well as in identifying, charging, and prosecuting co-conspirators for firearms crimes.

She said it also works closely with various US, international and Caribbean stakeholders, including the UK National Crime Agency, INTERPOL, and the Barbados-based Regional Security System (RSS).

“This new mechanism, which I urge all CARICOM states to support and use, will dramatically impact our success in combatting illicit firearms trafficking in the Caribbean.”

She said that the meetings here have contributed to enhancing citizen security by discussing seams and gaps and exchanging best practices to gain a better understanding of new trends and facilitate cooperation in combating illicit firearms trafficking in the Caribbean region.

“Moreover, you have identified additional recommendations on how to strengthen our collective efforts for consideration by your national and regional authorities.

“As our region has grown more interconnected, so too have criminal organizations that seek to identify and exploit gaps.  Faced with pressing transnational threats, it is now more essential than ever to develop integrated and interoperable response efforts to stay ahead of the criminals.  These response efforts must become better coordinated through enhanced national, regional, and interagency cooperation. “

Bond reminded the conference that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, adding “we must all examine and identify how we can work better together. Regional cooperation will ensure all links in this chain are strong and collaborating to address the shared threat.

“The citizens of our countries deserve a safe, secure, and prosperous Caribbean,” she added.