Police Commissioner Says Operation Iron Grip Catching Criminals

Commissioner of Police Everton Jeffers says Operation Iron Grip is delivering results, with multiple arrests already made — including chain-snatchers, a man found with an illegal firearm, and two individuals apprehended after a high-speed car chase in the Spanish Town area that ended with a suspect pointing a weapon at officers.

"A Net Set to Catch Criminals"

Jeffers confirmed the operation remains active during a radio interview this week, though he declined to share specific operational details, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing exercise. "Operation Iron Grid is an ongoing operation and I cannot give much details about it simply because it's an ongoing operation," Jeffers said. "What I can say, it is a net that is set to catch criminals."

Chain-Snatchers in Custody

The commissioner said several suspects have already been apprehended, including individuals linked to the recent spate of chain-snatching incidents across the country. He credited members of the public for assisting police in some of those arrests. "We have managed to catch several of those persons, even some of those persons involved in this snatch-and-grab or the pulling of people's chains from off their necks," Jeffers said. "I want to thank some of the members of the public who are also getting involved."

Firearm Seized, Two Charged

In one Operation Iron Grip intercept, two men were apprehended in a motor vehicle after a search of the car revealed a firearm along with five matching rounds of ammunition. A subsequent search warrant executed at the home of one of the men, Shamar Carr of Pares Village, reportedly uncovered a bushy substance suspected to be cannabis.

Carr, along with Jalen Burton of Fort Road, were both arrested and charged in connection with the firearm and drug offences.

Spanish Town Car Chase: Teen Arrested, Officer Has Firearm Pointed at Him

In a separate but related incident on June 17 at around 1:00 a.m., police observed a suspicious vehicle along Shirley Road in the Spanish Town area and attempted to approach it. The vehicle sped away, prompting a pursuit that ended when it crashed into a gutter. Two occupants fled on foot, with officers apprehending a 14-year-old shortly after.

The second occupant, an 18-year-old Nut Grove man, ran into nearby bushes and was captured after a search. According to reports, the 18-year-old pointed a firearm at officers during the pursuit, though the weapon was never recovered.

A Call for Public Vigilance

Jeffers urged the public to remain alert and continue reporting suspicious vehicles, noting that officers are typically stationed nearby and can respond quickly. "We are asking people to continue to be vigilant, look out for strange vehicles, call the police and let the police know," he said.

The results described by the Commissioner represent the first tangible public accounting of what Operation Iron Grip has delivered since its launch earlier this month, when Deputy Commissioner Albert Wade announced the strategy was built on the premise that crime in Antigua and Barbuda is predictable — and therefore can be disrupted. With chain-snatchers arrested, an illegal firearm removed from the streets, and a vehicle pursuit that resulted in two captures, the operation appears to be making inroads. Whether it can sustain that momentum against a crime wave that has shaken the confidence of communities across the island remains the central test ahead.