Police believe their successful naval patrols, which have intercepted numerous drug runners with thousands of pounds of illegal narcotics, have cut off a vital lifeline for members of Cayman’s criminal community, but at a cost which is becoming increasingly apparent.
“We intercepted a drug canoe, that was being captained by Caymanians, they got off, we didn’t catch them. I’m confident part of this crew is part of [one group of robbers],” said RCIPS Detective Superintendent Peter Lansdown, who noted that there were three groups of loosely associated, suspected criminals who had embarked on a series of robberies in the past six weeks.
Lansdown, together with Acting Police Commissioner Kurt Walton and Superintendent Brad Ebanks, addressed an increased and sustained spike in robberies across Grand Cayman during a press conference at police headquarters on 19 Dec.
As of 22 Dec., 47 robberies had been reported to police during 2022 the most for such crimes in a decade and the third-most active year in recorded history.
“If we intercept the drug canoes, we get the drugs, we get the guns, we get the boat, but we don’t get the people. Then, they are stuck on island without money, without a route off,” said Lansdown.
He added, “They are committing offences to fund criminal lifestyles and once they are on that path, they know they are going to go to prison for a long time and unfortunately it is very difficult to get off that wheel of crime.”
Now that the criminal factions have been forced back on land, police say they are actively pursing them. But in order to bring them to justice, police say they will need the assistance of people throughout the community.
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