RSVGPF officer trained to detect firearms trafficking 

By Admin. Updated 12:33 p.m., Wednesday, July 28, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4). 

The Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) has strengthened its efforts to combat gun-related crime after one of its officers completed specialised regional training in firearm trafficking detection.

Corporal Joel Williams of the Major Crimes Unit recently participated in a week-long course at the International Law Enforcement Academy in San Salvador, El Salvador, where law enforcement officers from 10 Caribbean countries received advanced instruction in firearm identification, trafficking trends and investigative techniques.

The training, held from July 13 to 17, was facilitated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). 

Participants came from Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

According to the RSVGPF, the programme focused on identifying firearms, understanding current trafficking patterns and using investigative methods to trace recovered weapons and evidence back to their origins. 

Officers were also trained in the use of digital evidence, including material obtained from social media, to support criminal investigations.

Reflecting on the training, Williams said he intends to apply the knowledge gained in his daily work and share it with colleagues across the Force.

“I would definitely incorporate into my work” the skills acquired during the programme, he said, adding that he is prepared to train fellow officers so the Force is “more prepared and equipped when it comes to firearms and firearms related offences.”

Williams also recommended that the RSVGPF continue expanding its use of modern forensic and firearm tracing capabilities to strengthen investigations involving gun-related offences both locally and across the Caribbean.

He further highlighted the importance of greater collaboration with the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), describing the regional organisation as a valuable partner in intelligence sharing and the fight against organised crime.

The RSVGPF said the training forms part of its ongoing commitment to regional cooperation and the continuous professional development of its officers as it works to tackle firearm trafficking and gun-related crime in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

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