The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

POLICE officers arrested more than 70 people and confiscated a machine gun, shotgun and quantities of drugs over the weekend.

A two-day police operation targeted at prolific offenders and led by Supt Ashton Greenslade saw seven persons arrested on Friday and Saturday between 3pm and 11pm.

Shortly after 3:30pm Friday, officers acting on

information, executed a search warrant at a Dunmore Lane residence and found a quantity of ammunition and suspected marijuana. Two men were arrested.

Around 7pm, officers acting on information conducted a search of bushes in Sands Lane off Mason’s Addition and uncovered a quantity of suspected marijuana.

Around 10pm, acting on information, officers searched a 32-year-old man on the corner of Wellington Street and Baillou Road and uncovered a quantity of suspected marijuana. He was arrested.

On Saturday, officers acting on information, executed a search warrant at a home in Peter Street and Hospital Lane where they uncovered a machine gun and a quantity of marijuana. Three men were taken into custody.

Also on Saturday, officers acting on information executed another search warrant at a Hutchinson Street residence and discovered an unlicensed shotgun and a quantity of ammunition. A man was arrested.

Five persons were arrested for murder and armed robbery during an overnight, island-wide operation led by Assistant Commissioner Leon Bethel on Friday night and Saturday morning.

They were among the 54 persons arrested during “Operation South Heat” which targeted areas with high criminal activity.

Nineteen persons were arrested for housebreaking, shopbreaking and stealing; ten persons were taken in for questioning about dangerous drugs and firearms; five persons were arrested on outstanding criminal warrants; six were arrested for causing harm and assault; another six were arrested for unlawfully carrying arms and vagrancy; three persons were arrested for causing damage and obstruction; five persons were arrested for murder and armed robbery while 40 drivers were cited for various traffic violations.

In Eleuthera, 11 men and one teen were taken into police custody on Friday night for possession of dangerous drugs after officers, acting on information, conducted a search of a Tarpum Bay restaurant shortly after 5:30pm.

The next day around 2pm, Eleuthera Division officer conducted a search at an undisclosed location in Tarpum Bay and uncovered a quantity of suspected marijuana. Investigations continue.

Around 8pm on Saturday, acting on information, officers conducted a search of an unoccupied building in the Sunshine Park Subdivision in Nassau where they discovered a handgun.

Thirty minutes later, police uncovered a second handgun at an undisclosed location in New Providence. Investigations continue.