Flashing headlights helping gun traffickers evade us, warn St Bess cops

Illegal guns are being moved through St Elizabeth under the cover of routine traffic, police say, warning that motorists who flash their headlights to alert drivers about upcoming checkpoints could be helping criminals evade law enforcement.

The warning came after a pre-dawn operation in Santa Cruz and surrounding communities in the Breadbasket Parish led to the seizure of an illegal firearm and the detention of 16 people on Monday.

Superintendent Coleridge Minto, commander of the St Elizabeth Police Division, said roadblocks and stop-and-search operations remain among the most effective tools available to police for intercepting illegal weapons and apprehending wanted men.

“A number of the firearm finds that we have had since I’ve been there were found at road stops, meaning you stop a vehicle and police suspicions lead to further search, or there is intel that tells us of a particular vehicle that we intercept,” Minto said.

“In fact, just last year, we found two weapons in one car. We’ve found weapons on bikes. It is an age-old practice. The police are on the road, but we can’t be on every road at every location,” he added.

Police say St Elizabeth’s extensive road network, including its winding rural thoroughfares, has made the parish an attractive route for criminals moving firearms. Motorcycles are among the preferred modes of transport because of their mobility and ability to navigate alternative routes.

Investigators argue that while many motorists flash their headlights as a courtesy to alert oncoming drivers of police activity ahead, the practice can have unintended consequences.

“What it does is enable the motorist to slow down or stop and wait out the police; and then they continue speeding and end up killing themselves and other motorists. Some motorists are also carrying weapons and they will wait until we leave or detour with their weapons. These weapons can in turn be turned against your families. So we are asking you to desist,” warned Deputy Superintendent Everton Williams.

According to Minto, several significant firearm seizures in the division have originated from routine vehicle checks, intelligence-led interceptions, and coordinated operations conducted across the parish.

He also revealed that at least two men currently being sought by police escaped from custody about three years ago, highlighting the importance of checkpoints in identifying and apprehending fugitives.

The operation on Monday resulted in the seizure of several motor vehicles and the issuing of dozens of tickets, mainly for unregistered vehicles.

At least two of the 16 people taken into custody are expected to be charged, while the others have since been released.

Minto said the operation formed part of broader efforts to target illegal firearms, wanted persons, and other criminal activity, particularly sexual offenses, in the division.

While roadblocks are often associated with traffic enforcement, Minto stressed that they continue to play a critical role in crime fighting and intelligence gathering.

"There are times when information points us to a particular vehicle, and there are times when a routine stop leads to further checks and discoveries," he said.

"We will continue to carry out these operations because they are producing results."

corey.robinson@gleanerjm.com