Seizures of illicit guns surge in the Caribbean

Studies recently done by Matt Schroeder, senior researcher at the Small Arms Survey at the Graduate Institute of International Development Studies, revealed a notable increase in seizures of firearms shipments to the Caribbean and Latin America during the period 2016-2023.

The findings were disclosed in the research titled “Trends in Trafficking:  Comparing US-based Firearms Trafficking to the Caribbean and Latin America.”

The newly acquired data came through the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to analyze the types, transport modes, and seizure locations of illicit firearms shipments from the United States to the Caribbean and Latin America.

The CBP later released the information to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS). The initial analysis of the data reveals similarities and differences between US-based trafficking to the Caribbean and Latin America.

The data also confirms that US interdictions of illicit shipments and illicit arms shipments are highly concentrated in a small number of states and regions.
In addition, the report highlights that CBP seized nearly 90 % of Caribbean-bound shipments in Southern Florida, an area known as a hotbed of trafficking to Haiti, the Bahamas, and other Caribbean islands.

Revelations on the update of firearms seizures at US ports of exit also show that trafficking dynamics vary significantly between the Caribbean and Latin America and even within the region.

“These differences include the number of seizures, the type of weapons seized, the illegal shipments, modes of transportation, and the seizure locations.  Some of these differences are consistent with previous studies. In contrast, others are more surprising, such as the comparatively high rates of seizures of AK- and AR-pattern rifles and high-capacity magazines in shipments to the Caribbean compared to Latin America,” the study noted.

Another high point for observation in these data shows that the dynamics of trafficking to most Latin American countries are similar to the trafficking in the Caribbean.
The data exposed potentially noteworthy trends in firearms trafficking and counter-trafficking efforts that merit additional examination.

The data appears to show a dramatic increase in US seizures of illicit outbound firearms shipments to the Caribbean and Latin America, with the largest number of seizures occurring in 2022-2023.

“Whether this increase reflects additional or improved screening of shipments, an increase in trafficking, changes in data collection, or some combination of these possible explanations is unclear,” sections of the findings reveal.

“Also notable is the steep rise in seizure rates of semi-automatic rifles and high-capacity magazines in illegal firearms shipments from the United States to the Caribbean. This increase is consistent with reports of growing demand for these items in the Caribbean, including Haiti, where some armed groups are better equipped than the security forces,” the report shows.

The data notes that because of “The apparent demand for these weapons, combined with the spread of conversion devices and ghost guns, these represent a worrisome trend in the Caribbean. Corroborating and fully explaining these findings require additional data, including local seizure data from Caribbean governments and trace data from other national and international law enforcement agencies.”