Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 13, 2018 (RSCNPF): Officers of Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise Department discovered two (2) firearms on Monday (January 12) along with a large quantity of compressed vegetable material suspected to be Cannabis inside a package at the Robert L. Bradshaw (R.L.B.) International Airport. The package had arrived via a courier service. The firearms, one (1) Glock 34 pistol with one empty magazine and one Smith & Wesson .38, along with the vegetable material, which weighed about 500 grams (about 1 pound), were handed over to the police.
Increasing the number of firearms taken off the streets is one of several goals the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) set for itself. This would also include preventing firearms from getting into the hands of those who try to smuggle them into the country. The Police are also committed to removing drugs from our communities. However, meeting these goals would not be possible without strategic partnerships. The Police intend to meet these goals by collaborating with other agencies, which is one of six crucial areas that were identified to guide their efforts.
The Customs and Excise Department is one such agency. Its preventative role in the overall crime-fighting effort is significant. In addition to this find, Customs Officers, last month, were also able to detect a large quantity of drugs inside a water heater that entered through one of our ports. Another important partner is the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA). The first firearm for the year was discovered by SCASPA Security Personnel inside the bag of a U.S. national who was preparing to leave the country via the R.L.B. International Airport.
These finds, along with the firearm found by Police Officers last month, brings the total number of firearms seized for the year so far to three (3).
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