Dominica's National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore announced Monday that law enforcement has taken possession of twenty-one illegal firearms so far this year, breaking down the haul as four rifles, two shotguns and the remainder as handguns.
Blackmoore made the statement while opening the Missing Person Alert System. He highlighted that several of the pistols seized are convertible models capable of functioning as rifles and feature semi-automatic capability, posing what he called a serious threat.
In recent weeks alone, six weapons were intercepted, including a 7.62 rifle. Blackmoore emphasised that such a rifle belongs on a battlefield, not in Dominica. "This rifle is meant for the battlefield, and Dominica is not a place for that," he said. "Now there is no battlefield in Dominica. This is a beautiful, peaceful country."
The minister praised the work of police and Customs personnel in stopping weapons at ports of entry. He pointed to equipment upgrades, particularly scanners installed at border checkpoints, as key to preventing illegal firearms from reaching the island.
Blackmoore also cited past gun amnesty programmes and cash incentives for tips as tools to encourage residents to surrender illegal weapons. He called on the public to settle conflicts without violence and reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting law enforcement.
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