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<span style="font-weight: bold">News Source: OTGNR - </span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Confirmed : Explosive powder found...ts (Gleaner)...</span>
Security experts are claiming that the type of explosive powder found in the luggage of a man destined for Jamaica, from the Miami International Airport this week, is one of the main ingredients in locally made bullets.The Gleaner has learned that authorities had been tipped off from as far back as 2000 about the local use of a small machine, called the Dillon Automated Reloading Press, to create ammunition.Assistant Commissioner of Police Les Green, who is in charge of the Major Investigation Task Force (MIT), told The Gleaner yesterday that it was quite possible such a machine was being used in Jamaica."But we are not aware that this is being done illegally at this time," Green stressed, noting that the local production of bullets can be done legitimately as well.The Dillon Reloading Press is used to reload the powder into spent shells (ammunition which has been discharged from weapons) along with what is called a primer and warheads."You put it (the spent shell) in the machine and it is cleaned and reloaded and works just as effective," a source told The Gleaner. "It would have to be put together and you can't put it together with your hand. You have to use this specific machine."experts ignoredThe source, a security specialist who did not wish to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, added: "A little reloading Dillon press can make 1,200 rounds per hour by itself. Can you imagine a man with two of that in his garage?"He complained that senior police officials under successive administrations have refused to listen to firearms experts in the field.He claimed that earlier this year, the Organised Crime Investigation Division found other components that are added to the explosive powder to create thousands of deadly rounds of ammunition.The Gleaner was told that some of the items can be easily passed through the untrained eyes of Customs officials and brought into the island."Customs simply don't know what it is," the source said."When 100 pounds of gunpowder come in, it could pass as grains or just about anything ... ."The Gleaner has been informed that it is cheaper to manufacture the ammunition in Jamaica than smuggle it from overseas."The reloaded (shells) would sell for approximately $800 per box ... and it is just as effective, compared to $4,000 (for new bullets)," said another source, who also wished to remain unidentified."What you find is that it is much more cost-effective. In the average gunfight, you will notice the high proliferation of shots on the roads."He said while the focus on the wharf is on the imported ammunition, a lot of it is being manufactured right here in the island."Because until recent times, when some of the ranges were upgraded, there were plenty of spent shells lying about even at Twickenham Park Police Training Centre," he claimed.
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Confirmed : Explosive powder found...ts (Gleaner)...</span>
Security experts are claiming that the type of explosive powder found in the luggage of a man destined for Jamaica, from the Miami International Airport this week, is one of the main ingredients in locally made bullets.The Gleaner has learned that authorities had been tipped off from as far back as 2000 about the local use of a small machine, called the Dillon Automated Reloading Press, to create ammunition.Assistant Commissioner of Police Les Green, who is in charge of the Major Investigation Task Force (MIT), told The Gleaner yesterday that it was quite possible such a machine was being used in Jamaica."But we are not aware that this is being done illegally at this time," Green stressed, noting that the local production of bullets can be done legitimately as well.The Dillon Reloading Press is used to reload the powder into spent shells (ammunition which has been discharged from weapons) along with what is called a primer and warheads."You put it (the spent shell) in the machine and it is cleaned and reloaded and works just as effective," a source told The Gleaner. "It would have to be put together and you can't put it together with your hand. You have to use this specific machine."experts ignoredThe source, a security specialist who did not wish to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, added: "A little reloading Dillon press can make 1,200 rounds per hour by itself. Can you imagine a man with two of that in his garage?"He complained that senior police officials under successive administrations have refused to listen to firearms experts in the field.He claimed that earlier this year, the Organised Crime Investigation Division found other components that are added to the explosive powder to create thousands of deadly rounds of ammunition.The Gleaner was told that some of the items can be easily passed through the untrained eyes of Customs officials and brought into the island."Customs simply don't know what it is," the source said."When 100 pounds of gunpowder come in, it could pass as grains or just about anything ... ."The Gleaner has been informed that it is cheaper to manufacture the ammunition in Jamaica than smuggle it from overseas."The reloaded (shells) would sell for approximately $800 per box ... and it is just as effective, compared to $4,000 (for new bullets)," said another source, who also wished to remain unidentified."What you find is that it is much more cost-effective. In the average gunfight, you will notice the high proliferation of shots on the roads."He said while the focus on the wharf is on the imported ammunition, a lot of it is being manufactured right here in the island."Because until recent times, when some of the ranges were upgraded, there were plenty of spent shells lying about even at Twickenham Park Police Training Centre," he claimed.