During parliamentary debate on a landmark 2026 firearms amendment bill, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has publicly revealed an active investigation into unconfirmed allegations linking one to two high-profile local business leaders to illegal firearms trafficking into the twin-island nation.
The announcement came as Browne outlined the government’s ongoing work to map out smuggling routes and shut down the supply of illegal weapons that pose a growing threat to national security. “We understand that there are one or two prominent businessmen who may be involved in the importation of guns,” Browne confirmed to members of the House of Representatives. He was quick to add that the intelligence pointing to their involvement remains uncorroborated, with law enforcement still working to gather additional evidence to verify the claims.
Browne declined to release any identifying details about the accused businessmen, the industries they operate in, or specific information about the allegations. He also confirmed that no arrests or formal charges have been filed in connection with this investigation, as of the parliamentary debate. No independent evidence supporting the allegations was presented during the parliamentary session, and no additional official details about the probe have been made public in subsequent disclosures.
The prime minister used the reveal to frame a broader policy push, arguing that law enforcement and policymakers must shift focus beyond low-level offenders caught in possession of illegal weapons, to target the kingpins and facilitators who coordinate smuggling operations into the country. “Everything is on the table” when it comes to protecting national security, Browne stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to taking aggressive action against the illegal firearms trade.
He also referenced a prior high-profile smuggling case to underscore the need for harsher sentencing. In that previous case, an individual Browne described as a personal friend, who had once been shortlisted as a potential candidate for Browne’s ruling Antigua Labour Party, was convicted of smuggling guns and ammunition and received only a one-year prison sentence. Browne argued that this lenient sentence highlighted the urgent need for revised penalties that are harsh enough to deter would-be traffickers. Under the proposed Firearms (Amendment) Bill 2026, convicted offenders will face significantly harsher sentences, including substantially longer prison terms for repeat offenders, covering a wide range of offenses from illegal public carry to unauthorized import, export, and transshipment of firearms.