TCI Police expose results of Dock Yard Operations 

Dock Yard and environs lock-down.

Turks and Caicos, November 6, 2024 – An operation led by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force consisting of officers from various arms of the Force, the TCI Regiment and TCI Border Force, last evening netted two suspects, an illegal firearm, ammunition and a quantity of cannabis.

As part of Operation MIGHT, officers descended into Dock Yard and its environs in a show of force, taking up strategic positions within the communities.

The operation commenced shortly after 6 p.m. yesterday (October 30), with intense focus on the following areas: Kew Town, Bible Street, Dock Yard, Hanco Close, Leeward Highway, The Bight, and Airport Road.

During the stop-and-search operation, officers noticed a white Suzuki vehicle with a male and female occupant. The male was instructed to stop by officers and was observed throwing a bag into nearby bushes. The suspect then attempted to flee by crashing his vehicle into a police jeep.

Officers apprehended him, and the female suspect was also arrested.

Officers combed the nearby bushes and found a bag containing an illegal firearm, ammunition, a ski mask, cannabis and other items. The male, 29, of Dock Yard, and the female,17, of Wheeland, remain in custody as investigations continue.

Additionally, 137 vehicles were checked, and five were towed.

In a brief statement shortly after, Superintendent (Specialist Tactical Operations) Jason James said, “Operation MIGHT is an ongoing operation with the strategic intention of developing a law enforcement-led multi-agency approach to saving lives, preventing future harm, and ensuring safeguarding measures are in place for victims and witnesses.

“The Force, alongside our partners, will continue to adopt a coordinated, full-force effort to prevent risk and harm to life and bring offenders to justice through the best intelligence and evidence. Our aim remains targeting individuals with illegal firearm ownership or use and those involved in criminal activities. Rest assured, we remain committed to disrupting the flow of illicit guns.

“Additionally, the RT&CIPF, in collaboration with other external agencies regionally and internationally, will continue to develop all reasonable lines of intelligence to arrest offenders and take illegally held firearms, ammunition and narcotics out of circulation whilst tackling gang crime and its causes. We thank the public for their patience, knowing these operations may sometimes cause inconvenience. I also wish to thank our partners and officers of the Force for their dedication and commitment.”

If you have any details about illegal firearms or criminal activities, please contact your nearest police station, call 911, or call the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842.

Alternatively, anonymous tips can be provided via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 or through the Crime Stoppers P3 Tips app, where information can be shared discreetly.