In yesterday's story about 43-year-old taxi operator Courtney Jones being given a total of 120 years for illegal guns, the police seemed to be pleased with their work.

This is justifiably so, as the interception of the guns in Old Harbour and the subsequent successfully prosecuted case were built on detective work by Jamaican police officers operating in Haiti.

Operation Kingfish spearheaded the operation and a representative told The Star that they are looking at similar drugs-for-guns centres, including places in The Bahamas.

We congratulate the police on their excellent work. This is how it should be done. For while the standard 'shoot-out' and recovery of dead men, live rounds, guns and spent shells make sensational headlines (and demonstrations), quiet efficiency is much preferred.

However, we must point out the limitations of the police in stopping the inflow of guns into Jamaica through operations at their source. For while Haiti is, in terms of proximity and visibility, a prime supplier of arms and ammunition to Jamaica, they do not make guns there. We sincerely doubt the Jamaican police will be given the go-ahead to operate in the arms-manufacturing countries which seem to be doing nothing to stop the weapons flowing through their borders.

So, congratulations to Operation Kingfish, but we know you can't go after the really big fish at home or abroad.