THE current crime spate is being fuelled by a thriving, multimillion dollar firearms trade where unscrupulous individuals are raking in huge mark-ups on the deadly imports, with the average illegal gun being sold for over $17,000. So said a report on illegal firearms and gun violence by the Joint Select Committee (JSC) on National Security laid in the House of Representatives on Friday. The JSC is chaired by Port of Spain South MP Keith Scotland.
"The firearms industry is lucrative in TT, valuing anywhere from $56 million to $144 million with an average black market price of $17,429 per firearm."
Most illegal firearms are pistols and handguns – 84 per cent – with rifles and shotguns just 14 per cent.
"Every long-arm rifle smuggled through the border has generated a gross profit of on average US$5,500," the report said, "while the gross profit for handguns ranges from about US$1,000-$2,000 based on the demand."
By comparison, the report said an illegal AK47 in northern Mexico (near the USA) sells for US$1,200-1,600 but in southern Mexico sells for US$2,000-4,000.
The report then listed the profits made by importing illegal guns to TT, with mark-ups typically ranging from three-fold to ten-fold.
An illicit AR15 semi-automatic rifle costs US$630 within the USA but sells on the TT black market for US$6,000, earning a gross profit of US$5,370.
An AK47 semi-automatic can be bought for US$700 in the USA but sells on the TT black market for US$6,500, a mark-up of US$5,800.
A pistol such as a Glock 19 costs US$580 in the USA but sells illegally in TT for US$2,625, a difference of US$2,045.
A revolver such as the Smith and Wesson 637 costs US$500 in the USA but sells on the TT black market for US$1,650, a profit of US$1,150.
The report then warned about "ghost guns," which presented challenges for detection.
"Ghost guns are unfinished guns, available as a building kit, and are made of mostly hard-plastic parts. A ghost semi-automatic rifle kit can be purchased in the US without a background check, is cheaper than an original brand, does not bear serial numbers hence is untraceable.
"Ghost guns in the shape of AR 15, AK 47, or Glock 17 pistols can be built in one hour only. The butt has to then be bought separately."
The report said a ghost gun typically sold in the USA for about US$380. It said 22 ghost guns were seized in Jamaica in January 2023.
"Ghost guns could make it more difficult to obtain a conviction in a court of law, as without a serial number, it is hard to prove that the gun was involved in the incident."
The report said, "Based on SSA analysis in 2021, the statistical estimate of illegal firearms in circulation within TT for 2021 was 11,043. This represented a 17 per cent increase from the initial 2019 estimate of 9,389."
Over 8,000 illegal guns used in crime
Illegal firearms were used in 8,472 fatal and non-fatal crimes in 2016-2020, according to the Strategic Services Agency (SSA), so harming citizens' sense of safety. The report noted 28.5 murders per 100,000 of populatio
