The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) has reorganised its Drug Squad, creating the new Gang, Narcotics, and Firearms Unit (GNFU) to focus on organised crime, drug trafficking, and gun-related offences.
This expansion of the unit, which previously focused solely on drug enforcement, comes in response to growing gang violence, the spread of illegal firearms, and the increasing impact of the narcotics trade, all of which have led to more homicides and community unrest.
Inspector Shervon Matthieu, who has been placed in charge of the unit, explained in a video statement on Saturday that the restructuring will provide a more thorough approach to fighting violent crime and dismantling criminal networks across the island.
The GNFU will operate two primary divisions, covering the north and south of the island. It will focus on gang-related crimes – monitoring and disrupting gang operations to curb violent incidents; narcotics trade – targeting the importation, distribution, and sale of illegal drugs; and firearms offences – seizing illegal firearms and dismantling networks that facilitate gun-related crimes.
“The rise in gang violence, drug trafficking, and illegal firearm possession has led to increased homicides, community fear, and youth recruitment into criminal activities,” Inspector Matthieu said. “The psychological and economic impact on citizens, businesses, and families is significant. GNFU will proactively address these concerns with targeted operations and intelligence-driven investigations.”
Recognising that crime, particularly drug and firearms trafficking, often extends beyond national borders, the RSLPF said the GNFU will work closely with several local and international agencies, including Customs and Excise Department, the Marine Police Unit, and Financial Intelligence Authority.
In its new role, the GNFU will not only enforce the law but also engage in prevention. It will implement educational campaigns in schools to raise awareness about the dangers of gangs, drugs, and firearms, as well as host community meetings to encourage residents to report suspicious activity.
The unit’s head said the establishment of the GNFU signals a new era in crime fighting in Saint Lucia.
“This initiative reflects our unwavering commitment to restoring safety, reducing violent crime, and holding offenders accountable. We urge community members, businesses, and stakeholders to support this effort, as law enforcement alone cannot win this fight,” Inspector Matthieu said.
Great initiative, hope to see and read about lots of positive and impactful results from this new endeavor GNFA, Money laundering…. especially with New, upgraded technology, additional new laptops for New Police cadets and officers.
It can work but you’ll need to work along side the financial investigative arm of force and inland revenue, you will never catch on violent crime , but when you catch with gun or drugs , start along financial audits and inland revenue lay down some financial charges. Tax evasion and ill gotten gains . We keep hitting our on the same edges . Come on get serious…….. alcapone was jailed for tax evasion never the massacre on Valentine’s Day ………
Very good initiative sir and I hope all goes well. But as I have said many times before and I will say again. Unless you fix the bail system or the judicial system you will be recycling the same people and the process continues. Another factor is that if you need the community’s help you need to start showing faces of criminals on social media, not just the handcuffs. Imagine someone commits a crime in Castries but is frequent in the Vieux Fort public, probably 60-70% of the people do not know him as a wanted criminal cause his face is unfamiliar. Showing a face will help more than giving a name. This is a very good approach but if you want to solve crime successfully you must complete the puzzle.
For twenty five years I have devoted my time ,resourses and energy to help nurture our youth in my community and the island at large via inspirational stories/ film production . I have initiated several meetings with the departments of education and culture to explore the various ways those films can be used in our communities ! I recently received my Honorary Doctorate as a result of the potential psychological and social impact those stories can have on the minds of youth within the region . I am sending a request to your department for the opportunity to sit with some members of your team to view the films so we can decide as to how our stories can be utilized to educate the youth socially and psychologically.
‘Ribbons of Blue” has changed the lives of thousands of youth within the region and it is belived that the message remains relervant .
‘Nana’s Paradise ‘ relates to the poor socio economic conditions our youth encounter in their homes but the story inspires youth to educate themselves as a best tool for servival .
‘Troubled Waters’ encourages parents to guard their valnerable youth as they may fall prey to predators.
‘Shantaye’s World’ exposes the love , respect and joy experienced in our communities in the 1940s.
I would hate to lie on my dying bed with the knowledge that twenty-five years of my life, devoted to changing the lives of our youth was not utilized.
Here’s a thought, Stop letting them out on bail over and over again for the same drug and gun charges! Even if this new unit catches them if they immediately get released, what’s the point?
Very good idea Mr.Garde , I have always look at DRUGS as the root of the crime problem in St. Lucia. I hope the police will do an effective job. I also hope the magistrates will not dismiss or adjourn cases as they are doing now.
The police can reorganize and streamline as much as they want. In fact, they can do it everyday. Unfortunately, they are joined at the waist with poorly functioning organizations. Those inept institutions will drag them at the bottom each and every time.
The judiciary and the legislature are the corpses that are attached thus dragging the police underwater. The legislature is all talk…bava. With the legislature, “zero tolerance” means releasing criminals on bail who possess unregistered weapons. Getting tough means not making provisions for added space in the prison. The judicial system is given leeway in making bail decisions. What a clown show! Criminals have been given bail who were apprehend with assault weapons. There have been instances when criminals were found with an illegal weapon TWICE and let out on bail.
The legislature and the judiciary are twin (deux) albatrosses around the neck of the police. They are engaged in making additional work. This new move by the police will not change anything in its workload or make the place safer. Bet all your money on that.