BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - POLICE have recorded more success in their bid to stem the gun violence in St. Kitts and Nevis, when they removed three more illegal firearms and a quantity of ammunition.
Following a two-day search operation in the Shadwell community and its environs the law men found three illegal firearms.
One Taurus .38 Special Revolver, one Smith and Wesson 44 Magnum Revolver and a Zastava AK-47-type rifle were found.
According to a police statement, the find occurred during operations led by the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF) which were undertaken on Friday and Saturday (September 28 & 29).
Police revealed that on Friday, in a bushy area, soldiers found a vehicle that was later confirmed by the police as having been stolen on September 20, 2018 from a parking lot in West Farm. The police were contacted, and several units responded.
“A further search of the area revealed a scooter and two firearms - one (1) Taurus .38 Special Revolver and one (1) Smith and Wesson 44 Magnum Revolver. Both weapons were loaded with several rounds of ammunition. Other items of evidential value were also found and taken into police custody. Technicians from the Forensic Services Unit processed the area and items,” the police statement read.
The SKNDF continued the search of the surrounding area on Saturday (September 29) where the firearms were found. During that operation, according to police. they discovered a Zastava AK-47-type rifle, an empty magazine and twenty-seven (27) rounds of 7.62 ammunition. Additionally, 3,387 Cannabis plants were uprooted and taken into custody.
“The plants ranged from seedling to nine (9) feet in height. The weapons were all taken into Police custody and will be analysed by the Forensic Services Unit,” police explained.
The find brings the total number of firearms taken off the streets of year so far to 33.
On Saturday, Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col.) Commander of the SKNDF, Anthony Comrie, said, “I would like to commend the soldiers on a successful operation and remind the public of the SKNDF’s commitment to their safety and security.”
The SKNDF has been a part of several critical joint operations with the Police and have been an important source of support during patrols for several years.
In August, some soldiers were given policing powers that will last for a six-month period in order to further assist in the crime-fighting efforts currently underway. As a result of recent violent activity, the SKNDF has had a sustained presence in the Shadwell area.
