The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

POLICE made two major ammunition and weapons busts this month as the result of a new operation and cracked a major armed robbery ring this week, Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade said yesterday.

Mr Greenslade said police arrested eight men they believe to be responsible for at least 13 recent armed robberies in the capital.

At a press conference at police headquarters, he said that despite the good work the Royal Bahamas Police Force has done, the proliferation of illegal weapons on the streets still remains a problem.

“On June 8, officers were able to take three illegal weapons along with 517 rounds of assorted ammunition, which were recovered through a courier service, which means bad people in America are trafficking illegal weapons and ammunition through the Commonwealth of the Bahamas using courier services,” Mr Greenslade said.

“In this particular case we are very concerned about what we saw. We have in custody three adults who are assisting us with our investigation. We anticipate additional arrests will be made and we will not back off, we will not stop until we find them.

“On June 16, around 5.15pm, DEU conducted a major operation which resulted in two Bahamian men being arrested and the recovery of eight illegal weapons in one place. We were able to follow these men and made an interdiction and we took from them two packages consisting of eight illegal weapons. Those weapons entered the Bahamas through a port of entry, shipped into New Providence from the US. We are also seeking additional persons in that matter.”

Commissioner Greenslade also revealed that five stolen vehicles and an assortment of stolen items were recovered during an operation Monday night.

“Around 9pm, alert officers from the mobile division arrested three men in Kennedy Subdivision following an attempted armed robbery in the Garden Hills area,” Mr Greenslade said.

“Investigation by detectives resulted clearing up of 13 recent armed robberies. These armed robberies where people were pulling up to their residence and they were accosted and their vehicles taken along with cash and other valuables.

“We recovered five vehicles taken in those recent robberies and also arrested five additional suspects and recovered an assortment of other stolen items.”

The commissioner said the RBPF is consistently mounting operations that target prolific offenders and interdict illegal weapons, drugs and other contraband.