By the Observer staff
(Basseterre, St. Kitts) – Members of the Royal St. Christopher-Nevis Police Force and the St.Kitts-Nevis Defence Force conducted a major joint stop-and-search operation around Basseterre last week and an official says more of these kinds of exercises are being planned.
The March 2 operation resulted in two arrests for cannabis possession; the issuance of 110 traffic tickets for offences ranging from driving with a defective number plate to driving an unlicensed vehicle; and searches of 100 vehicles and their occupants. Two unlicensed and uninsured vehicles were seized.
“The main objective was to deal with traffic violations. We know there are a lot of traffic violations that go unattended,” Inspector Cromwell Henry of the police said. “We need to have a balance so we don’t ignore any category of crime. Hence, the stop-and-search operation (was conducted). We were not only limited to traffic, but (the operation) could lead to other crimes. In the past, we have seized stolen property in these operations.”
And the police say that more is yet to come.
“We intend to make it a regular occurrence,” Inspector Henry said. “Part of the commissioner’s strategy to keep down crime is to have stop and search operations so criminals won’t feel comfortable. We believe having these operations as often as we can. They will deter criminal activities and people will treat their vehicles in accordance with the law.”
In addition to the traffic work, 36 pieces of crack cocaine with a street value of EC$900 were seized at an abandoned property in Ponds Pasture that was been used as a gambling house. The occupants at the time ran away upon entry of the Security Forces. No arrests were made.
“It was done at the same time. But during the operations, we saw the house and since we had the manpower, we conducted the operation,” Inspector Henry said.
