Police conduct raids and operations to apprehend drugs and illegal firearm offenders
The Royal Montserrat Police Force (RMPF) is reportedly continuing investigations following a raid in Carrs Bay last week Friday. Later activities have seen the police carrying out traffic checks and another operation on Thursday day this week which officials say is in response to ‘mounting evidence of drug trafficking and the existence of illegal weapons on the island.
Four persons were arrested in connection with drugs offences and the recovery of drugs on the beach at Carrs Bay. According to the reports, the exercise that involved forty officers wearing body armor was also in response to a recent incidents and one in particular in the area in which two crew members of the Royal Naval ship HMS Manchester were threatened with a gun. The raid also follows on-going overall drug activity at the same location with the operations resulting the arrests in four persons being.
On Thursday in Soldier Ghaut, at the bottom of Fogarthy Hill, a number of vehicles were stopped and searched, as the RMPF continue their vigilance aimed at bringing those responsible for offences to crimes especially connected to illegal activities to justice.
A Peoples Television (PTV) report suggests, “there was no way to be certain that motorists would not have to deal with more of the same in the future since the police say they are certain that firearms are being brought to the island in support of the movement of drugs.”
The report continues that the police are quick to point out that stopping the influx of drugs and drug related crime is likely to demand better all round security.
Meanwhile the public speculates, “At a time of financial austerity”, they, like everyone else, are wondering where the financing will come from. They contend: there’s the need to beef up Coastal surveillance, as they cite the news that six Shri Lankans all of whom were contesting orders to leave Montserrat have simply vanished.
At the same time the RMPF continues to express frustration that its marine and coastal surveillance capabilties are minimal.
