BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – OVER the past week, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force has carried out its mandates to increase law enforcement and to reduce crime in the Federation.

ARRESTS
According to a police press release, “on May 8, a juvenile from Lime Kiln was arrested and charged for house breaking and larceny committed on March 19. Two juveniles were also arrested and charged for the offences of building breaking and larceny, which they committed on September 21, 2008”.

Lawrence Brandy and Marleny Nisbet of Barnaby were arrested and charged for “possession of marijuana and cultivation of marijuana” on May 8. Kurtly Duncan was also charged with the same offences, but he was slapped with an additional charge of “carrying abroad an offensive weapon”.

Also on May 8, police had conducted a routine stop and search operation. After searching Jerma Kelly of Molineux and Jermaine Henry of Upper Cayon on suspicion of drug possession, they found a quantity of marijuana on both men. They were subsequently arrested and charged with possession of marijuana.

All persons arrested were released on bail and are expected to appear in court shortly.

COURT CONVICTION
On May 13, Delvin Maynard of Keys Village was convicted at the Basseterre Magistrate Court for “obstructing a police in the execution of her duties, wounding, resisting arrest, failing to comply with the lawful directions of a police officer and negligently interrupting the free flow of traffic”.

He was cautioned for the traffic violations and sentenced to prison for three months on the other charges. The sentences will run concurrently.

MARIJUANA PLANTS UPROOTED
In keeping with their stated goal of increasing drug prosecutions and convictions, officers of the Anti-Narcotics Unit conducted routine patrols in the Challenger’s Mountain on May 7.

Several marijuana fields were found with a total of 1 082 plants ranging in height from seedling to seven feet. Cleon ‘Bad Foot’ Doyling was found in one of the fields and was arrested.

The plants were uprooted and taken into custody. Doyling was charged for possession of the illegal plants, possession with intent to supply and cultivation of cannabis. He was subsequently released on bail and is expected to appear in court shortly.

The release also informs that similar operations were conducted in Shadwell Ghaut on the same day and 1 327 plants were found, ranging in height from seedlings to nine feet. They were uprooted and taken in custody. Carl ‘Mackie’ Hobson was found in a shack in the field and was arrested and charged for possession of marijuana, possession with intent to supply and cultivation of marijuana.