Players in major gangs and suspects of illegal firearms trade identified
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The representatives of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force at previous meeting of the Defence Council (Photo by Erasmus Williams)
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BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, DECEMBER 13TH 2007 (CUOPM) – The National Defence Council has been provided with a detailed assessment of the kinds of illegal firearms that have recently been seized by the law enforcement authorities in St. Kitts and Nevis.
This has been disclosed by Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty, following Monday’s meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.
Minister Carty also disclosed that the High Command of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force have also indicated that they have identified the major players in the four major gangs and have persons suspected of the importation and trade of illegal firearms.
The High Command of the law enforcement agencies was at the time providing the National Defence Council with a summary on the level of criminal activity over the past week.
“The High Command of the Police Force and the Defence Force outlined a number of specific strategies that are in operation to deal with the level of criminal activity in the country. In particular, the security forces alluded to the incidence of gang-related criminal activity and presented a detailed picture of the four major gangs in the country. Cabinet was assured that major players in these gangs have been identified and profiled, and that more specific targeting will now be possible,” said Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty.
He disclosed that the High Command of the Police Force also provided a detailed assessment of the kinds of illegal firearms that have recently been seized and stated that the security forces are also confident that they have within their view persons suspected to be involved in the importation and trade of illegal firearms. ~~Adz:Right~~
The Defence Council is comprised of the Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas; the Minister of National Security, Hon. Dwyer Astaphan; Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Hon. Dennis Merchant and the Commander of the Defence Force, Colonel Patrick Wallace and the Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Austin Williams. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Mrs. Astona Browne is the Secretary to the Defence Council.
