A recent report published on December 2, 2025, by regional and international organizations highlights the United States as a primary source of illegal firearms fueling escalating violence across the Caribbean. Titled Pathway to Policy: Firearms Trafficking and Public Health in the Caribbean, the study links U.S.-sourced weapons to rising gang activity, hospital shootings, and the recruitment of minors into armed groups.
According to data spanning 2017 to early 2025, 27 of 29 intercepted illegal firearm shipments in the Bahamas, Guyana, and other Caribbean nations originated from the U.S., with maritime routes being the dominant trafficking channel. Florida and Georgia accounted for nearly 70% of seized firearms in six countries, including Jamaica and the Bahamas.
The report urges U.S. authorities to tighten export oversight and port inspections to address cross-border arms smuggling. It emphasizes the public health crisis caused by firearm proliferation, which undermines regional stability and economic development.
Jointly released by the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security, the Caribbean Public Health Agency, and the Small Arms Survey, the findings underscore the urgent need for international cooperation to curb violence threatening Caribbean communities.
