BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force continues to make strides in curbing the circulation of illegal drugs, as reflected in a noticeable uptick in recent drug seizures.
This comes amid growing public concern, with police reporting a higher volume of drug confiscations so far this year compared to all of 2024, according to data provided to SKNVibes News.
Just last week, law enforcement officers intercepted more than EC$1.1 million worth of cannabis at Majors Bay. A total of 94 pounds of the drug was discovered, packaged across 38 parcels. The seizure highlights a broader issue: an increasing presence of major drug categories across the Federation.
Data up to the end of last year showed that the police had seized over 850 grams of cannabis..
As of the end of March this year, a total of 11,706 grams of marijuana had been taken off the streets. These seizures were categorized by location: 11,056 grams were confiscated on land, while 650 grams were intercepted at the nation’s ports. Interestingly, in 2024, the trend was reversed — with 740.3 grams seized at the ports compared to just 109 grams on land.
The police also reported seizing 356 grams of cocaine last year. However, no cocaine seizures have been recorded so far in 2025.
In a previous inquiry by SKNVibes News, police indicated that psychedelic drugs are not common on the island. Still, the force confirmed that 672 illicit pills have been confiscated so far this year — with 650 of them seized at the ports.
Additionally, the police confirmed that 283 pieces of crack cocaine were removed from circulation in 2024.
These developments come as local authorities, with the support of regional partners and assistance from the United States, have intensified efforts to disrupt the illicit drug trade across the region.
In parallel, the government continues to tackle the surge in gun violence, which is often tied to drug trafficking and gang activity. The administration recently launched its “90-Day Crime Reduction Campaign” and is now extending its efforts through the “Beyond the 90 Days” initiative.
During a recent presentation, Minister of Social Services Isalean Phillip emphasized that the rise in drug use and related criminal activity remains one of the top five public safety concerns in the Federation.
The minister also pointed out that, despite the decriminalization of cannabis, its use in high schools continues to be a significant concern for both the government and law enforcement.
Minister Phillip expressed confidence that community policing efforts, along with the National Intervention Team and the TAPS (Teen and Police Service) Programme, can play a crucial role in addressing the issue.
