Kingston, Jamaica – Detectives from the Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division (FNID) have charged 36-year-old Davian Roberts, a truck driver with dual United States and Jamaican citizenship, for last month’s seizure of 66 firearms and over 4,500 rounds of ammunition at Port Bustamante in Kingston.
Roberts, from Columbus, Georgia, USA, and Cooreville Gardens, Kingston 20, was charged on Monday with trafficking prohibited weapons and failure to comply with a production order under the Cyber Crimes Act.
According to reports, on Monday, February 17, at approximately 1:40 pm, the Jamaica Customs Agency detected anomalies within a shipment and contacted FNID investigators. A physical search of the shipment uncovered 50 handguns, 16 rifles, 4,737 assorted rounds of ammunition, and 83 assorted magazines.
Subsequent investigations revealed that Roberts was the shipper and intended recipient of the prohibited items. On Wednesday, February 19, an operation was launched in Southborough, Portmore, St Catherine, leading to Roberts’ apprehension.
While in custody, Roberts was served with a production order from a judge on January 25, mandating him to provide the passcode for his iPhone 12 Pro. He refused to comply and was subsequently charged with failure to comply with a production order.
Head of FNID, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Samuel Blake, stated that the division will continue to ramp up efforts to stem the flow of illegal weapons and illicit drugs in the island. “This seizure and subsequent arrest highlight the efforts of the FNID and our partners in disrupting the flow of illegal weapons into our country. We will ensure those involved in the conspiracy are held accountable, no matter where they operate. We will not tolerate those who threaten the safety and security of Jamaica,” said SSP Blake.
The public is urged to share information on suspicious activities and illegal weapons by calling Crime Stop at 311, the National Intelligence Bureau at 811, and the Police 119 emergency number.
