The Commissioner of Police Erla Christopher has called the early morning raid at a house in the Caparo district which was conducted by a Specialist Unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and the seizure of ‘ghost guns’ manufactured utilising 3D printing technology, as highly commendable.

According to the TTPS: Acting on information received, officers of the Specialist Unit quickly verified that a man was allegedly performing the duties of an armourer for criminal groups in the country.

A house at Todd’s Road, Caparo, was soon targeted and enquiries revealed that the individual had advanced his criminal activities to include the manufacturing of ‘ghost guns’ using 3D printing technology.

In response to this alarming information, the Unit along with the Southern Division Task Force, executed an operation around 4 am today, Wednesday 30th August, 2023, at the suspect’s home.

A quantity of firearms, ammunition, projectiles, a 3D printer and a computer system were seized from the location.

Investigations are ongoing into the matter.

The TTPS further stated that:

‘Ghost guns’ are firearms that can be produced using readily available 3D printing technology, making it challenging for traditional firearm control measures to detect and prevent their production. They can be manufactured without serial numbers or other identifying marks, making them difficult to trace and regulate.

The Commissioner says if such manufacturing operations become established in Trinidad and Tobago, it could lead to an increase in untraceable and illegal firearms circulating within the country.

She notes that the proliferation of illegal firearms poses significant risks to public safety and law enforcement and the lack of control over the production and distribution of these weapons could result in an increase in violent crime and contribute to the empowerment of criminal organizations.