On 21 September 2022, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), hosted a roundtable meeting in support of Jamaica’s National Action Plan under the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, which focused on privately manufactured firearms and the characteristics of an armed individual respectively.
The roundtable was opened by the UN Resident Coordinator to Jamaica and the Officer in charge of UNLIREC, before presenting participants with an update on the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap.
Following the introductory segment, a presentation was provided on privately manufactured firearms, also known as Ghost Guns. These are unmarked, non-serialized/self-fabricated firearms that are difficult to trace and do not comply with regulations associated with traditionally manufactured firearms. Participants discussed the various tools, materials and operating processes that are used to make illicitly, privately manufactured firearms, and the associated evidence that can be available to law enforcement when investigating cases involving privately manufactured firearms. During the discussions, participants emphasized the need to share information among the forensic labs and investigators to strengthen their capacity to respond to this new phenomenon effectively.
The second presentation and discussion focused on the characteristics of an armed individual. Participants discussed the current Jamaican Firearms Act and the proposed amendments, including who can legally possess a firearm and use a firearm. Participants also discussed the safety of law enforcement officers and other persons when responding to cases of armed violence. This included common factors which law enforcement officers and others should look out for when faced with armed suspects.
The roundtable was attended by twenty-two officials, including fifteen women, from the Ministry of National Security, Jamaica Defence Force, Jamaica Customs Authority, Firearms Licensing Authority, Institute of Forensic Science and Legal Medicine and Jamaica Constabulary Force.
The topics reflected issues of interest identified in Jamaica´s National Action Plan under the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap and the knowledge gained will strengthen the implementation of Goals Goal 2 (Reduce the illicit flow of firearms and ammunition into, within and beyond the region) and 3 (Bolster law enforcement capacity to combat illicit firearms and ammunition trafficking and their illicit possession and misuse) respectively.
The meeting was organized in collaboration with the Government of Jamaica and forms part of the technical assistance provided by UNLIREC under the Saving Lives Entity (SALIENT) initiative which aims to reduce violence and the proliferation of illicit firearms in Jamaica.
On 29 August and from 5 to 7 September, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Governments of the Bahamas, Barbados and Grenada, carried out a Serial Number Restoration Course.
In the Caribbean, several factors hinder States to trace one hundred percent of its recovered, illicit firearms, including the age of the firearm, ineffective procedures, and the absence of serial numbers on firearms. Obliterating serial numbers on firearms is a common practice for criminals to mask their origin, facilitate trafficking and their illegal use. UNLIREC has been training Caribbean law enforcement and forensic officials to restore obliterated serial numbers to support criminal investigations, successfully trace weapons and even disband trafficking networks.
The recent four-day course consisted of recorded videos, live online demonstrations, as well as the hands-on use of Magnaflux and Chemical Etching to restore/recover serial numbers from firearms that have been submitted for analysis .
Fourteen officials, including three women, from the Royal Grenada Police Force, Barbados Police Service and Royal Bahamas Police Force participated in the training. “[…] we are now better equipped to use this additional technique in restoring obliterated serial numbers not only from firearms but also from vehicles and equipment which carry serial numbers”, a participant noted.
UNLIREC, as the regional centre of the UN Office of Disarmament Affairs, seeks to advance the cause of practical disarmament in Latin America and the Caribbean as part of its commitment to support Member States.
The Regional Serial Number Restoration Course contributes towards the implementation of Goal 3 of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, “Bolster law enforcement capacity to combat illicit firearms and ammunition trafficking and their illicit possession and misuse, and ammunition, and ultimately reducing firearms-related crimes and armed violence in the Caribbean”.
This activity was funded by the United States of America and contributes to the implementation of international disarmament and non-proliferation instruments, in particular, the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms.
From 15 to 18 August, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Government of Jamaica, carried out the National Ballistics Intelligence Management Course, that contributes to reducing the effects of armed violence and gun crimes by strengthening capacities to combat illicit trafficking in firearms and ammunition.
The 4-day training course covered modules on Firearms and Ammunition identification and classification, Chain of Custody, Sources of Ballistic information, Ballistic information management and analysis and Ballistic Intelligence.
The Ballistics Intelligence Management course benefits law enforcement and other officials involved in the investigation and prosecution of gun crimes; including first responders, criminal investigators, forensic analysts, laboratory technicians, customs officials, intelligence officers, prosecutors, judges and other personnel working with firearms registries.
In Jamaica, twenty-three officials, including eight women, from the Ministry of National Security, Jamaica Constabulary Force, Jamaica Customs Authority and Institute of Forensic Science and Legal Medicine participated in the training.
“[The course] planning and delivery of the practical exercise was very informative. I enjoyed it very much. It demonstrates the collaborative effort that is needed to address the issue of crime and firearms trafficking around the world.”, indicated a participant.
The course sensitizes participants to the importance of the involvement of and interaction between different authorities as part of the evidence management and ballistic intelligence cycle. The training focused in particular on enhancing the role of forensic laboratories in firearms investigations, including the generation of investigative leads and seeks to strengthen the coordination between forensic laboratories and investigative units.
The National Ballistics Intelligence Management Course contributes to the implementation of Goal 3 of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap which seeks to “Bolster law enforcement capacity to combat illicit firearms and ammunition trafficking and their illicit possession and misuse, and ammunition, and ultimately reducing firearms-related crimes and armed violence in the Caribbean.”
UNLIREC is one of three regional centre of the UN Office of Disarmament Affairs and seeks to advance the cause of practical disarmament in Latin America and the Caribbean as part of its commitment to support Member States.
This activity was made possible with funding from the United States of America and contributes to the implementation of international disarmament and non-proliferation instruments, in particular, the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms.
From 8 to 10 August 2022, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) delivered its Double Casting Course and handed over one Double Casting Kit and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for double casting procedures to Trinidad and Tobago.
Double casting increases the ability of forensic experts to make connections between crime and crime scenes. Double casting consists of making a silicone mold of a fired bullet or cartridge case and then, using the mold, creating a replica of that bullet /cartridge case. The duplicate can be used for ballistics imaging, microscope examination and comparison.
During the course, twelve officials from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and Forensic Science Centre learned about the practice of Double Casting and the importance of sharing relevant findings and information between national agencies and beyond. “[The course] provided a unique opportunity to dive further into an aspect of Forensic Science […] with regional cooperation in mind, and provide valuable intelligence to regional partners”, indicated a participant.
Double casts, or replica, of bullets and cartridges cases can be sent to other jurisdictions or countries in lieu of original evidence for comparison and potential linkage to other crimes, while preserving the chain of custody of the original evidence and enabling forensic laboratories to provide valuable investigative leads to police. It is also useful when a particular country or agency does not have access to an Automated Ballistics Identification System (ABIS).
The Double Casting course is based on INTERPOL’s Ballistics Information Network (IBIN) validated method but also allows scope for the use of other materials that provide satisfactory results. The SOP provided to participants includes a synopsis of several of the most common double casting procedures for use with ABIS and general comparison microscopy purposes.
UNLIREC, as one of three regional centres of the UN Office of Disarmament Affairs, seeks to advance arms control in Latin America and the Caribbean as part of its commitment to support Member States.
The Double Cast activities contribute towards the implementation of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, in particular Goal 2 “to reduce the illicit flow of firearms and ammunition into, within and beyond the region” and Goal 3, “Bolster law enforcement capacity to combat illicit firearms and ammunition trafficking and their illicit possession and misuse, and ammunition, and ultimately reducing firearms-related crimes and armed violence in the Caribbean.”
This activity was funded by the United States of America and contributes to the implementation of international arms control instruments, in particular the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms.
Participants reviewing the acquisition of a double cast and exhibit on an Automated Ballistics Identification System
Haiti concluded the preparation of its National Action Plan (NAP) and a baseline assessment for the ‘Roadmap for Implementing the Caribbean Priority Actions on the Illicit Proliferation of Firearms and Ammunition across the Caribbean in a Sustainable Manner by 2030’ (Caribbean Firearms Roadmap), following a series of preliminary virtual sessions and four in-person roundtables organized by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) over the past months.
Work on those milestone achievements culminated during the latest in-person visit by UNLIREC to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, from 12 to 14 July 2022. During the visit, UNLIREC support authorities to complete the assessment of standards and practices linked to Goal 4 of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, which seeks to systematically decrease the risk of diversion of firearms and ammunition from government- and non-government-owned arsenals. This includes work on the physical security and stockpile management of small arms.
Representatives of the Ministries of Justice, Interior, Foreign Affairs, Youth, Sports and Social action, the National Commission for Disarmament, Dismantlement and Reinsertion (also representing the Ministry of Defense), the Police, Customs, and the Port Authority showed great interest in the technical presentations delivered in this context and were given the opportunity to provide feedback on the national priorities identified during the overall NAP drafting process.
Work on the NAP had started earlier in 2022 and had garnered significant momentum during UNLIREC´s previous mission to Haiti in May. The final draft of the NAP is now being submitted for formal approval to the Prime Minister, after which the implementation phase of the Roadmap can begin, possibly as early as this year.
Haiti is the 12th country to complete the drafting process of a NAP which confirms States´ commitments to and priorities under the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap adopted in 2020 as a regional umbrella framework by all CARICOM States and the Dominican Republic. The Roadmap includes commitments to implement a series of Goals and actions to tackle illicit firearms trafficking and make the Caribbean a safer region.
UNLIREC´s support to Haiti is funded by the Governments of the United States and Germany and is carried out in close collaboration with the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). In July 2022, the United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2645 (2022) welcomed the Roadmap and requested relevant UN agencies, such as UNLIREC, to support Haitian national authorities in combating the illicit trafficking and diversion of arms and related materiel.
