Castries, Saint Lucia – July 15, 2025
A major police operation carried out by the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) has led to the arrest and charging of a 19-year-old man in connection with illegal firearms and ammunition, following a rise in gun-related incidents islandwide.
The breakthrough came on the evening of Thursday, July 10, 2025, around 6:00 p.m. near the Rose Hill/Morne Du Don Junction, close to Wilton’s Yard—a community previously flagged by police for firearm-related activity. Officers on patrol observed a suspicious individual and conducted a routine search, which uncovered two illegal weapons: a Glock .45 pistol loaded with fourteen (14) rounds of ammunition and a black pistol loaded with seventeen (17) rounds of 9mm ammunition.
The suspect, later identified as Derek Charles of La Feuillet, Monchy, was arrested on the spot.
On Friday, July 11, 2025, Charles was formally charged with Possession of Firearm and Possession of Ammunition. He was escorted before the First District Court on Monday, July 14, 2025, for a bail hearing and was granted bail in the sum of ninety thousand dollars ($90,000) with additional court-imposed conditions.
The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has commended all units involved in the successful operation, citing their “professionalism and dedication” as critical to the arrest.
As gun violence continues to trouble communities across Saint Lucia, the RSLPF reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding citizens and maintaining public safety. Authorities have hinted at more targeted operations to come in the effort to stem the tide of illegal firearms on the island.
