A comprehensive regional investigation has revealed the United States as the dominant supplier of illicit firearms driving escalating violence across Caribbean nations. The landmark report, collaboratively produced by multiple international agencies, documents systematic weapons trafficking operations primarily originating from American sources.
The study titled “Pathway to Policy: Firearms Trafficking and Public Health in the Caribbean” was jointly released on December 2nd by the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security, the Caribbean Public Health Agency, and the Small Arms Survey research organization. Their findings present compelling evidence linking the region’s worsening security situation directly to firearms proliferation from US channels.
According to empirical data collected between 2017 and early 2025, law enforcement agencies in Caribbean countries intercepted at least 29 illegal weapons shipments, with 27 tracing directly back to United States origins. The report highlights that maritime shipping routes serve as the primary conduit for transporting weapons from US ports to Caribbean destinations.
Geographic analysis identifies Florida and Georgia as particularly significant source regions, accounting for nearly 70% of firearms seized in six Caribbean nations including the Bahamas and Jamaica. The document characterizes American gun stores, illegal weapons traffickers, and port transportation systems as integral components of this cross-border smuggling network.
The proliferation has catalyzed multiple public health crises across the region, including increased recruitment of minors into armed gangs, hospital shootings, and intensified gang violence. Researchers conclude with urgent policy recommendations for US authorities to strengthen firearms export supervision and enhance port inspection protocols to combat the deteriorating security situation.