BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN their continuous efforts in the fight against crime, specialised units of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, in two separate operations, have netted a large quantity of illegal drugs, with a street value of over EC$0.5M, and four individuals including one female are in police custody.
According to a police communiqué, a series of vehicular stop and search operations were conducted yesterday (Nov. 7) in the Federation by the Special Services Unit (SSU), Anti-Drug Unit and the Strategic Intelligence Unit (SIU) with assistance from the Nevis Division.
While conducting searches of persons and vehicles in the Southeast Peninsula, members of the SSU and SIU stopped a bus, TA 209, in the Timothy Hill, Friars Bay area at about 12:30 p.m. The bus, owned and driven by Akimba Demming of New Pond’s Site, was searched and 13.5 kilos of compressed marijuana, with a street value of EC$450,000, was found within.
The illegal drugs, along with Demming and Roy Wilkerson of Shadwell Housing who was also in the bus, were taken into police custody.
The communiqué informed that investigation into the find is still ongoing and charges are likely to be filed.
It also informed that during an operation on the Bay Road in Basseterre, one Dexter Sommersal of Prickley Pear Alley was stopped in the vicinity of the Bus Terminal on suspicion of having controlled drugs, firearms and ammunition in his possession.
A search of his person realised the find of a white powdered substance suspected to cocaine. The substance, weighing 6.4 grams, was later tested and confirmed to be cocaine with a street value of EC$4,200.
As a result of the find, a search by warrant was executed on the Shadwell Housing property where Sommersal resides and 762 grams of marijuana with a street value of EC$45,708 were found.
Police claimed that at the time of the search, one Xenia Collins was present on the property and both she and Sommersal were “taken into custody and charges are expected in relation to this find”.
“A proud member of the Anti-Drug Unit reportedly said: “Today was a great day in the fight against crime, particular illegal drugs. Half a million dollars worth of marijuana is now in police custody. Our efforts are paying off.”
He declared that “it’s good to see the team in sync, SSU, Nevis, the SIU and all the others who have worked in support of this operation. We can be proud, our citizens can be proud”.
The communiqué noted that Acting Commissioner Stafford Liburd had commended the officers for their vigilance and dedication.
“I want to commend the officers of the Force. Today was a good day for us! Our vigilance and dedication are paying dividends. Not every day will be this successful, but day by day, operation by operation we will make inroads,” adding that “today is illegal drugs, tomorrow it may be another illegal weapon. Let us stay mission focused, let us be vigilant. I applaud your efforts, we are delivering for our nation”.
