Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security St. Clair Leacock has announced that the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will soon arrive in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to assist local law enforcement in a sweeping, intelligence-led crackdown on gun violence and organized crime.
The announcement was made during a parliamentary session on August 27th, 2026, in response to questions posed by Opposition Senator James regarding the government’s national crime-reduction strategy and the institutional resources deployed to curb homicides.
“The FBI would be here just now to assist us,” Leacock declared, highlighting that this partnership is a critical pillar of the state’s plan to disrupt illegal firearms trafficking and strengthen local law enforcement capabilities. Interpol has also dispatched representatives to St. Vincent to evaluate and examine local units.
The collaboration with the FBI is intended to support local authorities in targeted operations, intelligence gathering, investigations, and searches, which Leacock emphasized would be conducted “always within the framework of the law” to respect citizens’ rights.
Leacock emphasized that the government has already significantly invested in local capacity, sponsoring 88 training courses and conferences so far in 2026. These programs have trained over 160 personnel across the police, Coast Guard, prison services, and immigration—not including the 120 recruits currently in training. The government has spent over $98,000 to fund participation in these regional and international courses.
Leacock revealed that his preparation for the national security portfolio included high-level security training and diplomatic engagements in Barbados, where he met with representatives from Interpol and visited the U.S. Embassy to engage with FBI officials.
