Chairloads of guns - Countree Hype facing decade in US prison for firearms smuggling

A Jamaican music producer has pleaded guilty in the United States (US) to smuggling dozens of firearms and ammunition to Jamaica by concealing the weapons inside furniture shipments, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.

Taugea Ubert Dayes, 33, who performs under the stage name ‘Countree Hype’, pleaded guilty to one count of smuggling goods from the US and one count of delivering a firearm to a common carrier without written notice.

According to information released by the US Attorney’s Office, Dayes concealed 30 firearms, 32 magazines and more than 100 rounds of ammunition inside five office chairs before shipping them from the US to Jamaica in March 2025.

Investigators said the weapons and ammunition were wrapped in tinfoil and foam before being sewn into the cushions of the chairs.

Authorities reported that the shipment was sent through a freight shipping service on March 10, 2025. Jamaican law enforcement later intercepted and seized the weapons in Kingston eight days later.

US Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones said illegal firearms trafficking contributes to violence and instability.

“This defendant concealed dozens of firearms inside furniture and attempted to ship them overseas to evade detection and arm the black market in Jamaica,” the prosecutor said in a statement.

The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division, and other international law enforcement agencies.

Dayes faces up to 10 years in federal prison. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge after consideration of US sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com