— Cabinet has approved the acquisition of detection dogs for deployment at the ports as part of Antigua and Barbuda’s effort to stop illegal firearms and ammunition from entering the country.

Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant said at the post-Cabinet news conference that the dogs would be trained to help port authorities detect firearms, ammunition and currency. He did not say how many dogs would be acquired, what the program would cost or when they would be deployed.

The decision followed discussions with senior police and customs officials about gun crime and the movement of illegal weapons into Antigua and Barbuda. Cabinet questioned the comptroller of customs extensively about how incoming shipping containers are examined and cleared, Merchant said.

Cabinet called for greater scrutiny during container clearance and directed customs officials to speed up the acquisition of portable scanning equipment. It also urged faster progress toward bringing the port’s container scanner fully into operation. Merchant did not give a timetable for those measures.

The dogs would add another way to check cargo and other areas at the ports as authorities work to identify weapons before they enter circulation. Merchant said Cabinet considered stronger border enforcement a critical part of its response to gun crime, alongside police efforts to recover illegal firearms already in the country.

During the meeting, Cabinet extended condolences to the family of Saquania Anthony, who was killed in a shooting in Bathlodge, and expressed concern for two others who were injured. Merchant said the attack underscored the urgency of confronting gun violence in Antigua and Barbuda.

Cabinet also instructed police to intensify enforcement and intelligence-led operations against criminal activity.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antigua and Barbuda Cabinet Approves Detection Dogs for Ports to Find Guns and Ammunition.