BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN the ongoing ‘Operation Mid Sweep’, members of the Special Services Unit and the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force were launched on a surveillance mission which resulted in the discovery of two illegal firearms and a quantity of ammunition.
According to a police statement, the surveillance mission was launched yesterday (Aug. 19) in the Newton Ground area, where the security officers conducted a search on two vehicles and discovered a Glock 23 Pistol with 20 .40 rounds and a Ruger .40 Pistol with 11 rounds.
The statement also said: “Four persons were taken into custody, including a Customs Officer.”
Commenting on the discovery, Deputy Commissioner of Police Hilroy Brandy said: “I want to commend the team on this seizure. The Team Leader saw something out of the ordinary, reflected and relied on his training and took the appropriate actions. He followed his intuition, and it reaped dividends...two more illegal firearms are off the streets.”
Commissioner of Police Ian Queeley also commented on the discovery, noting that it underscored the point that the Security Forces’ efforts to rid the communities of illegal guns continue to be a challenge, and that the joint forces is committed to ensuring Citizen Safety in the Federation.
“This seizure, coming on the heels of those about two weeks ago, will serve as a motivator for our teams. It will also reinforce that by staying focused and vigilant our efforts will continue to bear fruit. To the team, I say a job well done.”
He continued: “I urge all citizens to join us in our efforts to ensure safe communities. I encourage you to come forward and share any information you may have with regards to crime and criminal activity.”
The Commissioner advised that that the sharing of information could be done by calling any police station, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 or by using the SKN Crime Reporter App on a Smartphone.
This recent discovery has taken to 37 the number of illegal firearms taken off the streets of St. Kitts and Nevis for 2017; one more than the total seized last year.
