Police are trying to determine how many cans of pepper spray were illegally sold at Parkers’ store on North Sound Rd.
Twenty-four cans of the substance were taken off the shelves there recently after an officer with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service discovered during a shopping trip that the store was selling it.
Cayman Islands law prohibits the possession of any item designed to discharge a noxious gas or liquid, such as pepper spray or mace cans. Violators can face up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
People who use pepper spray, like police officers, have to be trained and must also receive express permission from the police commissioner.
In this case, RCIPS spokesperson Deborah Denis said no action would be taken against the store proprietors who have cooperated fully in the investigation.
‘They didn’t realise it was prohibited,’ Ms Denis said. ‘They cleared the shelves immediately (after being informed), and vowed to never sell it again.’
Similarly, police said anyone who bought the spray from Parkers’ will not be dealt with in this instance if they surrender the items at their local police station.
Store owners told police they simply ordered pepper spray as they would any other item sold at the business. Police said they have notified Customs about the importation of such goods.
It’s not clear how long Parkers’ store has been selling pepper spray, but police said it was likely less than a year.
RCIPS is making arrangements to destroy the remaining cans.
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