Thugs Force Business Owners to “Pay up or else!”

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – SKNVIBES.COM has come into information which indicates that the infamous Killer Man Squad (KMS) has been running a local racketeering ring, extorting ‘protection money’ from business owners.

According to sources in the know, the criminal minded individuals have for some time, demanded business owners operating between Basseterre and its Westerly outskirts pay them monthly ‘dues’ of up to EC $1000 per month. Failure to do so, it is said, would result in that business being targeted for robbery, vandalism, arson and possibly serious physical harm to the owners and employees.

SKNVibes.com has also learnt that some businesses are currently paying the extortion money but to the detriment of their businesses. Some, it is rumored, have had to close up shop or seek relocation to avoid the shakedown.  ~~Adz:Right~~

A senior police source today confirmed that they had knowledge of the occurrence but that their “hands are tied”.
“We have heard about this blackmailing ring but there’s little we can do when none of the persons allegedly being extorted are coming forward. When approached they would admit that it is happening but they have a mortal fear of these hoodlums and refuse to give statements. The Police cannot take these people before the court without evidence to sustain a charge,” the officer told SKNVibes.com.

The police official said from what information they had garnered, there were many business people who were paying the protection money and that some of the criminals behind the racket were collecting the equivalent of a regular salary from the ring.

“We need people to come forward and take a stand in order to put an end to this. The crooks only get bolder when people keep quiet and give in to their demands. Once we can get persons to give statements then we can take it from there,” he said.

Word on the street has it that from barbers, to food vendors, to shop owners are forking over their earnings to these thugs who some say, “Watch too much TV”.