POLICE LAUNCH MANHUNT AFTER 14 GUNS SEIZED IN KINGSTON RAID

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KINGSTON, JAMAICA  The Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division (FNID) is on the hunt for Julian McLeish, a suspect who allegedly fled the scene of a major gun bust on Deeside Avenue, Kingston 10, on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.

During the intelligence-led raid, police seized a total of 14 illegal firearms including two rifles and 12 handguns along with 12 magazines and 57 rounds of ammunition. One man was arrested at the scene, though his identity is being withheld pending further investigations.

McLeish, who evaded capture during the operation, is being urged to turn himself in immediately. Law enforcement officials are asking anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact FNID at 876-923-6184, the National Intelligence Bureau at 811, Crime Stop at 311, or the nearest police station.

This latest bust follows a massive seizure of 238 illegal firearms just one day prior, on Tuesday, May 27. With approximately 269 firearms confiscated in just over a week, the FNID says the results underscore their relentless commitment to targeting the island’s illegal weapons trade.

OUR TAKE: FIGHTING GUN CRIME REQUIRES A TECH-FIRST APPROACH

While this latest gun seizure represents a major win for law enforcement, the bigger picture still demands long-term solutions. The scale and frequency of illegal arms entering and moving within Jamaica reflect deep systemic issues that can’t be solved by raids alone.

To truly tackle the problem, we suggest:

  • Enhanced port security and scanning technology to detect contraband before it hits the streets.

  • A national firearm intelligence task force to track trafficking routes and digital footprints of arms dealers.

  • Increased community involvement and tip incentives to encourage the public to report illegal weapon caches.

  • Gun crime data transparency, so communities and researchers can help craft localized prevention strategies.

Removing 269 illegal weapons in a week is no small feat but without long-term disruption of supply chains and better tech-driven policing, Jamaica remains vulnerable to more violence.