BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE ongoing mystery of how illegal firearms continue to enter the Federation remains a pressing concern for law enforcement, with no clear answers yet on who is responsible for these dangerous imports.
The issue resurfaced recently when police seized a semi-automatic rifle from a rental vehicle occupied by three men.
Raziq Persaud of Plum Tree, Phillips Village, has since been arrested and formally charged with Possession of Firearm and Possession of Ammunition in connection with the incident, which occurred on May 31.
According to a police statement, around 5:10 a.m. on May 31, members of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force spotted a black Toyota car with three men behaving suspiciously in the Half Moon area. The vehicle was discreetly followed to the rear of Mau Pau Casino in Port Zante.
"As soldiers approached, the occupants exited and fled the scene on foot," police said.
A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered an AR-15 rifle, a magazine loaded with 20 rounds of mixed-calibre ammunition, and a multicoloured backpack containing cash, a black mask, gloves, a pink Samsung cellphone, and other personal items.
Police say they made a breakthrough when Persaud was charged on June 10 at approximately 3:45 p.m. at the Basseterre Police Station.
Since the start of the year, law enforcement has ramped up efforts to get illegal guns and ammunition off the streets following a deadly spike in homicides last year. The trend has continued into 2025, with three homicides recorded so far this year.
So far, police have seized 11 firearms and 110 rounds of ammunition in 2025 alone.
The growing concern is underscored by alarming data: over the past decade, more than 80 percent of homicides in the Federation have involved firearms.
