Fishermen to answer arms charges today
published: Wednesday | January 3, 2007

Michael McLean, Gleaner Writer


These eight AK-47 rifles were among a cache of 10 weapons, along with 75 rounds of ammunition, recovered by the police in St. Elizabeth recently. - Photo by Analee Bernard

St. Elizabeth:

Four fishermen who were charged with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition have been booked to appear in the Black River Resident Magistrate's Court in St. Elizabeth today.

They were caught with eight AK-47 rifles, two revolvers and 75 assorted rounds of ammunition along with eight magazines on December 19.

The men, 57-year-old Arden Ebanks of Mitchell Town, Clarendon; Alvin Ashby 31; Carlington Parchment 26, and 32-year-old Bryan Parchment are all of Newell addresses in St. Elizabeth. They were arrested and charged following an operation by the St. Elizabeth police.

Reports are that about 3:00 a.m., the police, acting on intelligence, went to the Great Bay fishing beach where they observed four men unloading the weapons from a boat named Destiny.

The men were reportedly observed taking the weapons to a house where they attempted to bury them in the yard. When they were surprised by the police, they attempted to run, but were cornered and subsequently arrested.