BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THOUGH they have been successful in a drug and illegal firearm bust in a sting operation, some members of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) have not only been accused of bringing the law enforcement organisation into disrepute, but also being accused of causing two employees of a reputable company in St. Kitts to be publicly embarrassed.
This embarrassment came in the wake of a joint operation conducted by members of the Federation’s Security Forces who, according to information received by this publication, had mistakenly arrested two employees of telecommunications provider LIME.
In a police release, it was stated that members of the SSU, Drug Squad, SIU and Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise Department had carried out a joint intelligence-led operation at about 12:30 p.m. today (Aug. 25), which resulted in the find of a significant quantity of compressed marijuana and a semi-automatic pistol with a magazine containing 19 rounds of ammunition.
“During the operation three (3) persons were taken into police custody. The persons were observed leaving a local Courier Service with several large boxes and were intercepted by the members of the Security Forces and taken into custody. Two (2) of the persons who were taken into police custody were employees of local telecommunications provider, LIME. At the station, they were interviewed by the officers and their items searched. Nothing to satisfy the suspicion was discovered in their packages and they were discharged pending further enquiries. The other a resident of the Sandy Point Community remains in police custody assisting with the ongoing investigation,” the communiqué read.
Police said that the drug weighed 2 803 grams (2.803 kilos or 6.1 pounds) and is estimated at a wholesale value of EC$56 060 and a street value of EC$168 180.
The communiqué also stated that the High Command of the RSCNPF “takes this opportunity to thank the Management and staff of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Department for their invaluable assistance and cooperation in this and other joint initiatives as we continue our thrust in the execution of the Six (6) Point Plan to reduce and prevent criminal activities in the Federation”.
However, in a twist to the police’s explanation of what transpired, SKNVibes was told that they had received a tip concerning the find but had mistakenly taken the two LIME’s employees for the intended target(s).
Speaking to an individual who claimed to know one of the employees on a personal basis and who preferred to be called Rasta, this media house was told that the incident occurred on Central Street.
“Shortly after noon today while walking on Central Street, I saw a small crowd had gathered by the Indo Carib Shop and I decided to stop. Looking across the street I saw some police officers coming out of KDP Enterprises with two men whose hands were handcuffed behind their backs.
“Taking a closer look, I recognised them to be employees of LIME and I knew one of them personally. I know the other one to be a Christian and both of them are law-abiding and hard working men. I then saw the officers put them in one of LIME’s vehicles along with a large box’ I later learnt that they were taken to the Basseterre Police Station and subsequently released.”
Rasta also told this media house that he learnt the men were held on suspicion “for importation of drugs”.
Another individual, on condition of anonymity, said he was outside of the Basseterre Police Station when the two employees were released and, on , found out that they were not involved in any illegal activity.
“These police officers must get their information right. How can they arrest and shackle those men and embarrassed them in public like that? That is shameful! They didn’t find anything illegal on them or in the box. The police need to publicly apologise to those men, their employers and their families for the gross embarrassment they caused.”
SKNVibes learnt that many individuals with smart phones had taken photographs of the men and had video recorded the incident, which have gone viral.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S NOTE: SKNVibes took the decision not publish the photos or the video of the two men in light of the undue embarrassment they have suffered and may still be suffering.
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