By N. Thomas-Brown, Guardian Staff Reporter

nadine@nasguard.com

Appliances, vehicles, cleaning supplies and foodstuff are now being utilized as vehicles for smuggling guns into the country, Chief Superintendent of the Central Detective Unit, Marvin Dames told The Guardian on Wednesday.

The high-ranking police official said that criminals have been using these and more extremely creative means to smuggle guns into the country. These weapons are then used in many dangerous crimes including robberies, assaults and murder which are taking place every day.

"Last year 212 weapons were confiscated. The numbers for this year are still being calculated but the number of weapons seized so far exceeds last year's number," said Chief Supt Dames.

The Bahamas' proximity to North America (which is one of the foremost manufacturers of guns,) as well as the physical make-up of the country (comprised of a series of islands stretched out over 100,000 square miles) make it easy for people to engage in firearms trading or obtaining guns, he said.

Chief Superintendent Dames said that a vast majority of guns come through the country's major ports daily. He said that while this presents a significant challenge, the police are becoming more experienced in handling these situations.

"The challenges will always be there. The same thing applies to drugs. While there are seizures and there is a lot to celebrate, there is still a significant amount of work to be done." Superintendent Dames said that the police have been able to forge relationships with their counterparts in the United States such as the FBI, Homeland Security and others. He said that "as long as the demand is there then you will have people out there who will be willing to participate in this nefarious business regardless of the penalty."

Calling the problem of gun smuggling a very dynamic business, Chief Superintendent Dames added that the police force does its best to seek offenders out and look for better alternatives to counter the problem on a daily basis.

Because of successes in the past, in regard to the smuggling of weapons the Chief Superintendent said that the criminals have changed their tactics and the police have to change to counter them. In terms of more manpower to handle the gun problem, Superintendent Dames said that there are proposals which are being looked at and that resources are being purchased as well as personnel identified.

"You can never overlook the importance of more resources and their impact on this problem so we have been looking at international as well as local partners to help us battle this problem," he said.

The laws which govern gun possession have become more stringent and possession of an illegal gun could net the holder a maximum of 10 years in jail, according to Chief Supt Dames.

He said that legal gun holders who have failed to stay current in licensing their firearms will be punished to the full extent of the law in the new year as possession of an unlicensed gun is a crime.

In other news, a male resident of Yellow Elder Gardens was arrested on Tuesday, after police who were patrolling the area saw him acting in a suspicious manner.

According to Press Liaison Officer, Inspector Walter Evans, the male who was in his early twenties was searched and was found to be carrying a handgun containing 15 live rounds. Investigations continue.