Police arrest 21 during
raid held at ‘The Dump’
PHILIPSBURG--Twelve Immigration officers and members of the Police Force held an immigration raid on the Pondfill area called “The Dump” on Sunday at approximately 7:00am.
At this location, situated between the Festival Village and the sanitary dumpsite, a total of 21 men and women were arrested and taken to the police station in connection with their illegal status on the island, Police Inspector Ricardo Henson said.
A woman identified as T.M. of Jamaica pulled a black handgun from under the mattress of her bed when she was approached by two police officers. The officers managed to take the gun away immediately. The weapon, which at first sight seemed to be authentic, turned out to be a plastic replica of a 9mm Beretta.
A witness stated he had seen two men trying to escape via Great Salt Pond, but both were apprehended.
The persons arrested during the raid came from St. Vincent, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Guyana, Colombia and Cuba. Five of these persons who claimed to have legal status on the island were checked out and released. The other 16 will remain in detention while arrangements are being made for their safe return to their home countries, Henson said.
Because of the lack of space in the detention area and a lack of personnel, the Immigration Department has suspended its actions temporarily until these persons have been processed and sent back to their countries. However, similar Immigration controls will be held in the future, said Henson.
