Press Releases

Following a lengthy and thorough collaborative investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, that began in June 2022 following an investigation into a shooting incident, officers uncovered evidence of an illegal importation ring, where shipping services were exploited in order to import unlicensed firearms in the form of component parts and ammunition into the Cayman Islands.

The investigation revealed that component parts to assemble at least 14 firearms were imported using this method; including seven semi-automatic pistols & seven semi-automatic assault type rifles, along with well over 3000 rounds of ammunition. During the investigation it was determined that a person identified as a previous employee of a logistics company was using their inside knowledge to arrange importations. This man was arrested and searches of residences belonging to him and other known associates were conducted. During these searches, a firearm was recovered from the address of Eddie Ebanks and subsequently another firearm along with ammunition was recovered from the residence of Courtney Myles Jr., a member of the RCIPS administration staff. An analysis of the weapons showed that the firearms recovered from these residences were built using the component parts that had been imported. The investigation then centered around Courtney Myles Jr., who was discharged from RCIPS as a result of his arrest.

Eddie Ebanks has since pleaded guilty to the offense of Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm and was sentenced on 25 October, 2023, to the mandatory minimum time for this offence – 7 years. On 18 September 2025, he further pleaded guilty to of Conspiracy to Import Firearms and Component Parts and Conspiracy to Import Ammunition.

Courtney Myles Jr. attended court on 13 October 2025, where he pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Import Firearms and Component Parts, Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm, Possession of Ammunition and Misconduct in a Public Office.

Yesterday, 18 June, Courtney Myles Jr. was sentenced to 11 years eight months in prison for these offenses.

Eddie Ebanks received a sentence of 18 months in prison, which is in addition to the sentence he is currently serving for the firearm offence.

“It was important that this kind of illegal activity, when it came to light, was immediately tackled head on,” says Commissioner of Police Kurt Walton. “When I spoke to the Cayman Islands about persons having an insatiable appetite for guns and being merchants of evil, the persons involved in this ring of illegal activities fit this profile perfectly. This investigation and result demonstrate our ongoing commitment to identifying and prosecuting all persons involved in this type of heinous activity.”