CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – A number of individuals are in custody after police on Nevis discovered a firearm and a quantity of ammunition within a vehicle owned by the Nevis island Administration (NIA).
According to a police communiqué, members of the Enforcement Division of Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise Department, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force’s Anti-Robbery Team and the Nevis Task Force had conducted a joint intelligence and surveillance operation, which resulted in the find of the firearm and ammunition.
The operation, which took place on Monday (July 7), had led to “a traffic stop conducted on a pickup truck owned by the Nevis Island Operation”.
The communiqué noted that following an extensive search on the occupants, the vehicle and its contents, the law enforcement officers found one semi-automatic pistol with nine matching rounds of ammunition.
The occupants, vehicle, pistol and ammunition were taken into police custody as investigations are ongoing.
It also noted that Commissioner of Police Celvin ‘CG’ Walwyn takes this opportunity to thank all persons who were instrumental in this operation and to encourage all civic minded individuals to continue to support law enforcement officers in the discharge of their official duties.
“This,” the communiqué added, “is done by continuing to report all criminal and suspicious activities and persons to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-8477. These tips have led to dangerous drug and firearms being removed from the streets of our Federation.”
It further stated that “the Anti Crime Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister wishes to publicly state that it fully supports the Joint Operation and thanked the men and women of this operation for their continued dedication to duty and to the implementation of the zero tolerance initiatives put in place by the Commissioner of Police, thereby reducing crime by almost -40% in the month of June. The Anti Crime Unit is dedicated to supporting the men and women of law enforcement in making the Federation a safer place for all residents and visitors alike.”
Over the past months criminal activities have significantly increased on Nevis.
It started on January 17 with fire destroying the building that housed the Treasury, Inland Revenue Department and the Philatelic Bureau and, to date, ended with an armed robbery of the Supply Office in Pinney’s and an alleged attempt to bomb the Charlestown Police Station.
