Details are emerging on the circumstances which led to the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) seizing a machine which it claims can manufacture parts for firearms.
The machine was found at a property in Manchester.
Speaking on RJR’s talkshow programme, Hotline, on Wednesday, Shane Dalling, CEO of the FLA, disclosed that his investigators commenced a probe after seven persons in Manchester requested permits to import more than 100,000 rounds of ammunition.
He revealed that the owner of the machine was among the persons being investigated by the FLA after checks were made with the overseas-based ammunition supplier.
He said the rounds of ammunition – 108,000 – were requested for the purpose of training on a shooting range, however, the large amount requested raised concern.
“We have checked in the industry; that is very high and is unusual,” Mr. Dalling told Hotline host Emily Shields.
The Ministry of National Security has said it is monitoring the investigation being conducted by the FLA.
Minister Robert Montague, who also spoke on RJR’s Hotline on Wednesday, agreed that the amount of ammunition requested was unusually high.
“The experts have advised me that if you fire 12,000 rounds within a short space of time, it changes the ballistic signature of the weapon and therefore, I believe that the FLA would be within its right to request those weapons to have them re-tested and to obtain the ballistic records,” he suggested.
According to the minister, it was during this process of re-testing that the machine was discovered at the Manchester property.
Meanwhile, John Junor, the attorney for the owner of the machine, is insisting that the equipment was purchased legally by his client to manufacture parts primarily for the bauxite industry.
“(The machine) was brought into the island through the customs, duly declared. It, in fact, was granted some exemptions under the Bauxite Incentives Act because it is used for the purposes, as I indicated, of manufacturing parts, etc, for the industry,” he argued.
Mr. Junor said the machine has not been used “at all” because it is computerised and would need “the programme and licence from the various manufacturers to be able to programme the machine.”
The attorney also contended that the machine is not unique in its ability to make parts for “a firearm or anything”.
“Any machine machine shop you go to, you can take it, it will make a trigger, it can make a barrel, it can make any of those,” he insisted.
Mr. Junor said his client will cooperate with the FLA in its investigations.
So why don’t they name the individual? Why would you buy and import a machine that is technically useless? It is computerize, which the buyer knew ahead of time, so why import it in the first place?
The machine has dual purpose use and that is why it was imported. I thought the machine was for making bullets?
Regular CNC machine, FLA needs more Training.
It might be a CNC machine, but why did the owner refuse police/FLA entry to the property the machine was located? Those machine are huge and expensive, so why import such a machine to have it sit idle collecting dust. That machine was either brought used or was actually in use base on the grease stains on the machine.
Does the Owner of the machine have a shooting range? Why so many applicants for ammunitions from Manchester? Keep in mind, bullets are not cheap, even in the USA. How many shooting range are located in Manchester?
No sah, dis seerus! It nuh look good fi di ppl at all.