CRIME Chief Leslie James yesterday disclosed that over the past three years weapons from neighbouring Brazil lead the way in the illegal seizure list while those out of the United States follow closely.

The Crime Chief was at the time addressing members of the media, senior police officers and business stakeholders at the Police Officers Mess, Eve Leary during the presentation of the police Christmas security plan.
James said that between 2009 and October 31, 2014 the types of weapons seized and were determined to be illegally obtained are mostly pistols and revolvers. He added that 35 percent of the weapons seized between that period were revolvers, the preferred weapon for criminals here, while pistols were recorded at 34 percent.
With respect to the origin of the weapons seized between 2012 and 2014, the Crime Chief said that weapons from Brazil lead the way followed closely by those from the U.S.
The Police Force records have shown that Brazilian type weapons were the choice of criminals and in 2012 the Police Force was able to seize a total of 111 while in 2013 the number went down to 100. Weapons from the United States have been recorded at 33 for 2012 and 18 for the year 2013.
The Crime Chief said that one of the main factors for the presence of the numerous Brazilian-made weapons found here is the common border which Guyana shares with its Portuguese neighbour in the south and south west.
In addition, reference was also made to the many Brazilians who travel to this country illegally through the interior and engage in mining with their weapons on them. According to James, the miners and the illegal immigrants might be bringing their weapons as a means of personal protection.
However many of those weapons make their way into the city and are usually confiscated by the police during raids and other operations. In some cases weapons were smuggled into the country while others might have been taken away from Brazilian miners during robberies in the interior locations.