Antigua and Barbuda’s law enforcement agencies have pulled 44 illegal firearms off the nation’s streets in the first eight months of 2026, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed. The high volume of seized weapons has sparked urgent alarm among top officials, who warn that a far larger number of unregistered guns likely remain in circulation across the twin-island nation.
“If, after almost eight months, we have confiscated as many as 44, you can imagine how many illegal firearms remain on the streets,” Browne told reporters in a public address outlining the country’s current gun crime landscape. Alongside confirming the seizure figures, the prime minister revealed that firearm-related offenses have jumped 33% year-over-year, rising from 18 total cases recorded across 2025 to 24 already reported in the first eight months of 2026.
While Browne noted that the absolute number of gun-linked incidents remains far lower than the statistics reported in many other countries, he emphasized that this elevated level of gun violence is completely unacceptable for Antigua and Barbuda. The nation has long maintained low rates of street weapons activity, making the recent upward shift particularly notable. Illegal firearms have already been linked to multiple serious offenses including armed robberies and homicides, Browne added.
In response to the growing crisis, top national security authorities have completed an initial review of potential sources for the illicit weapons and developed targeted operational strategies to curb illegal gun trafficking and possession. However, Browne declined to share specific details of these operational plans, citing ongoing law enforcement activities and the need to protect sensitive investigative tactics.