In a further effort to ensure firearms remain out of the hands of criminals, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and Crime Stoppers Trinidad and Tobago have jointly launched the Illegal Gun Removal Programme.
At the Launch of the Programme on Thursday, Acting Police Commissioner Junior Benjamin urged the public to be a part of the solution to reduce the number of illegal guns in Trinidad and Tobago.
He shared the latest murder statistics for the country. So far this year, there have been 94 murders, a decrease from 131 in 2024 and 136 in 2023. Out of these 94 murders, 69 involved firearms. Among the perpetrators, six were female and 63 were male. Additionally, 18 of the total number of murders involved persons 24 years and under.
“When we look at the crime situation and the number of persons that are dying, we recognise that these are young people that have the potential to be great persons in society. Nevertheless, their lives are cut short. We have females, and especially in a time where we recognise that we are losing the lives of our female persons in our society.”
Though not a new initiative, Director for Crime Stoppers Trinidad and Tobago, Darrin Carmichael, said the Illegal Gun Removal Programme is effective, with 462 firearms removed in the last 25 years.
“While it might sound small as a number compared to what might be out there, think about for every one firearm that exists today, how many robberies, how many murders, how many kidnappings and the like that that one firearm in the hands of that one criminal could commit. So when you take 462 and multiply that effect, you will understand the value of that number.”
Mr. Carmichael said the Programme maintains the anonymity that is synonymous with Crime Stoppers, and includes an increase in reward money.
“Crime Stoppers has agreed to increase the reward amount, so what’s new to what we have been doing in the past? We have raised the reward amount for pistols and revolvers to $4,000 per handgun. We have increased the amount to $5,000 for shotguns, and we know that the weapon of choice for most criminals out there is the AR-15 and the automatic weapons and so on, those rifles, so those rifles can now fetch somebody who is calling in information $7,000 per firearm.”
The Programme will come to an end when the State of Emergency expires on April 13th.
Commissioner Benjamin is pleading with the public for their cooperation in ensuring illegal guns are taken from the hands of criminals.
“The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service must do something, and this is our way of responding, and we are appealing to you, the law-abiding citizens, to join us in this fight, and as you join with us, we know that we can see a tremendous change as we seek to remove those firearms from off the streets.”
If anyone has information on illegal guns or knowledge of criminal activity, call 800-TIPS, 800-8477, online through the Crime Stoppers website, and through the Crime Stoppers App, P3 Tips, which is available for all smartphones.