Police crackdown leads to four firearms seizures, many arrests
Four firearms, drugs and several bladed weapons have been turned up during a crackdown on crime, the Assistant Commissioner of Police said yesterday.
Antoine Daniels said that Operation Sentinel successfully disrupted organised crime over the past few weeks and that efforts would continue.
He said that stop-and-search exercises on the roads and search warrants on residences led to several arrests.
Mr Daniels added: “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the members of our community.
“Without them, our operations wouldn’t be as successful as they have been.
“Their assistance and co-operation are very well appreciated, very much needed, very much required and we don’t want them to stop here.”
Police launched Operational Sentinel after a surge in gun crime, with the latest incident being the killing of businesswoman Janae Minors in her Court Street store last month.
Mr Daniels said that Operational Sentinel involved a boost in foot patrols, heightened police presence, more stop-and-search operations and the execution of search warrants.
He said the plan led to 1,394 stops-and-searches across three weeks, compared with about 1,000 that took place during the entirety of 2024.
Two firearms, he added, were recovered on September 25 from a Court Street business and another two from a Smith’s residence on October 2.
Mr Daniels said that three men were arrested for the incidents, with one expected to be charged for the Smith’s incident while the others were released on police bail.
The firearms found through Operation Sentinel, according to Mr Daniels, made up more than half of those recovered in 2025.
He added that 80 people have been arrested for possession of a bladed article.
Mr Daniels said that there had been fewer firearms incidents this year compared with 2024 — but that they had resulted in more deaths.
He explained that 2024 had 19 confirmed shootings and resulted in four deaths, compared with ten confirmed firearms incidents and five gun-related deaths this year.
Mr Daniels said this suggested that the accuracy of gunmen had improved over the months.
He added: “In 2020, just to give you an example, we had 25 firearm incidents and two murders.
“This is a troubling trend and highlights the urgency and necessity of our intensified policing approach.”
• May 1: four gunmen enter Legends Bar in Somerset at about 10.30pm and fire indiscriminately, killing Jasmin Smith, 32, and Shaquan Williams, 29, while injuring three others
• August 12: two men on a motorcycle open fire on three men on Court Street at about 4.40pm, killing Natrae Eversley, 23, and Nakai Robinson, 18, while injuring a 24-year-old
• September 16: a lone gunman walks into Beauty Monster on Court Street at about 4.45pm and fatally shoots Janae Minors, 37
Mr Daniels recognised that charges have been laid in relation to the Legends Bar killings, with Najee Simons, 24, being charged this morning with killing Ms Minors.
He added that two other men had been released on police bail as investigations continue in relation to the double murder on Court Street on August 12.
Mr Daniels later confirmed that police were called to Loyal Hill, Devonshire, last night after receiving “a number of calls” about a firearm being discharged.
He explained that police searched the area last night and this morning, but had not yet found any ballistic evidence.
Mr Daniels said that police were looking to maintain this heightened presence in the long term to adjust to a “new normal”.
He added that, although officer numbers were limited, the Bermuda Police Service would use technology and other “creative ways” to conduct policing efforts.
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