The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) in partnership with the United States (US) Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) has officially handed over advanced firearms identification technology to the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda (RPFAB) to bolster ballistic intelligence and combat gun-related crime.

The handover ceremony, which was held on 27 May 2026, at the RPFAB’s headquarters in St. John's, included a state-of-the-art Bullet Catcher system and IBIS BRASSTAX forensic equipment.

This initiative is part of an ongoing regional push by CARICOM IMPACS to support the decentralisation of ballistic testing and scale up intelligence-led policing across the Caribbean. These new tools allow the RPFAB to process ballistic evidence locally and generate immediate leads, which reduces reliance on overseas laboratories and speeds up criminal investigations.

Mr. Earl Harris, Assistant Director, Corporate Services, CARICOM IMPACS, stated that the equipment will integrate with regional security databases, allowing investigators to cross-reference ballistic data and disrupt transnational criminal networks.

Mr. Everton Jeffers, Commissioner of Police, RPFAB, explained that the donation will significantly improve the country’s handling, examination and analysis of firearms. Additionally, this new acquisition marks a vital technological step forward that will directly enhance Antigua and Barbuda’s investigative capacity and fortify citizen safety.