Police Commissioner Verne Garde has issued a stern warning to Saint Lucia’s criminal underworld, signaling a decisive shift in law enforcement strategy toward dismantling illicit wealth and illegal enterprises.
The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force is now intensifying efforts under the proceeds of crime framework, targeting the assets of ten high-profile individuals believed to have amassed wealth through unlawful means.
“These people will be losing some of the property that they have achieved through nefarious activities,” Garde declared. “The targets are named already, and we are getting the packages ready to manage them. So, the wealth they enjoyed before 2026, they will not enjoy it again.”
The Commissioner made it clear that this new approach represents only one element of a broader campaign to restore order and strengthen public safety.
“And this is just a small part of what we intend to do to get order in Saint Lucia,” he added.
Beyond financial seizures, the police have also moved to dismantle illegal structures believed to be linked to criminal activity. Garde noted that such developments have been appearing across the island, sometimes under the guise of legitimate business.
“We have instances where persons have decided to erect structures throughout the length and breadth of this country. In some cases, they’ve said it’s to do business and in some cases it’s to do ghettos,” he said. “We have broken down a few of them and will continue to break down the rest.”
He pointed to a recent example in Bexon, where swift police action led to the removal of an unauthorized structure erected over a single weekend.
“I think up to this morning we had one that was quickly erected in Bexon, Castries over the weekend. I’ve given my instructions to take it down and it was taken down,” Garde stated.
The Commissioner underscored that the police force remains focused on results rather than rhetoric, as it confronts evolving criminal threats.
“We have no big conversation, we have no big talk, but we are going to get the work done.”