In a significant win for public safety in Antigua and Barbuda, the Royal Police Force has announced a major haul of illegal contraband as part of its sustained anti-crime push, Operation Restore Confidence. The successful operation, carried out across multiple communities on Wednesday 19 August 2026, has taken an illegal firearm and ammunition off the nation’s streets, marking another milestone in the force’s commitment to reducing violent crime and rebuilding public trust in law enforcement.
Teams of officers drawn from multiple departments and policing districts coordinated a day of targeted stop-and-search actions and court-authorized search warrant executions across four key areas: Golden Grove, Nut Grove, Jonas Road, and Liberta. During a routine traffic intercept on Nut Grove Road, officers pulled over a white Toyota sedan for a legally permitted search. Inside the vehicle, they uncovered a loaded 9mm handgun alongside 11 matching rounds of ammunition, prompting the immediate detention of three people on suspicion of violating national firearms legislation by possessing the weapon and ammunition without valid authorization.
Parallel operations unfolded in residential areas of Jonas Road and Liberta, where police executed search warrants at private homes. A search of a Liberta residence turned up two illicit items: three sets of unused licence plates suspected to be stolen, and multiple pairs of camouflage-patterned clothing, possession of which is restricted to authorized uniformed personnel in Antigua and Barbuda. Two people at the property were taken into custody in connection with the recovered items. In addition to the contraband seizures, officers stopped and inspected dozens of other civilian vehicles during the day’s operations, ultimately seizing and impounding four unlicensed, uninsured vehicles at the official Antigua and Barbuda Motor Pool facility.
Police leadership emphasized that Wednesday’s seizures are not an isolated action, but part of a consistent, long-term strategy under Operation Restore Confidence to increase uniformed police presence across residential neighborhoods, dismantle ongoing criminal networks, remove dangerous illegal weapons from public circulation, and raise overall safety standards for all residents. As the operation continues to target high-crime areas and disrupt illicit activity, law enforcement officials reiterated the critical role of public participation in the initiative. The force is calling on community members to continue sharing tips and information related to illegal firearms, stolen property, and any other suspicious criminal activity, with a guarantee that all submitted information will be handled under strict confidentiality protocols to protect the identity of sources.