A large-scale, multi-agency operation targeting human smuggling, organised crime, and immigration offences was successfully executed across St. Kitts and Nevis on Tuesday, 9th July, 2025. The high-impact security exercise, conducted between 4:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., led to the detention of thirty individuals, including twenty-six adults arrested and four juveniles placed in protective custody.
The operation was coordinated by key arms of the national security architecture, including the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force’s (RSCNPF) Special Services Unit (SSU), Anti-Narcotics Unit, and Joint Security Operation Tactical Team (JSOTT), in collaboration with the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force Infantry, Customs and Excise Department, and officers of the Prison Service. It was carried out under the supervision of Commissioner of Corrections (Ag.) Spencer Isaac and senior law enforcement leadership.
A total of eleven search warrants were executed across both islands—eight in St. Kitts and three in Nevis—targeting persons suspected of involvement in transnational crime networks. Electronic devices and other investigative materials were seized during the raids and are currently being analysed to aid in ongoing investigations.
The operation benefitted from technical and analytical support from regional and international partners, including the Regional Security System (RSS) and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). These agencies contributed expertise in forensic analysis, operational risk assessment, and the deployment of specialised equipment, while also facilitating skills training for local officers.
Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. Terrance Drew, has consistently reinforced the government’s commitment to combating crime, particularly organised networks involved in human smuggling, gang activity, and violent offences. Under his administration, the national security budget has been significantly increased and intelligence-led policing capabilities have been expanded.
Human smuggling remains a serious concern for Caribbean states. St. Kitts and Nevis has been identified in regional reports as a possible transit point or destination for smuggling victims. The government’s response has involved strengthened legislation, greater surveillance, policy reform, and international collaboration.
In parallel, the government has recently taken aggressive steps to protect the integrity of its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme. Through the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), several agents have been blacklisted and citizenships revoked for cases involving fraud, misrepresentation, or non-payment of required investments—further demonstrating a zero-tolerance approach to exploitation of national systems.
The July 9th operation marks one of the most coordinated and decisive national security efforts in recent years, with authorities reaffirming their focus on safeguarding the Federation against external threats and organised criminal activities.
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