According to Inspector Walter Evans, press liaison officer for the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the arrests were made after officers searched the two apartments. “Officers from Operation Quiet Storm executed search warrants on two premises on Key West Street around 8 p.m. on Thursday,” said Insp Evans. “People were discovered inside both facilities with moneys and various gambling items. “As a result 23 individuals ﾖ all believed to be Haitian nationals ﾖ were arrested and moneys totalling approximately $40,000 was confiscated,” he added. At this point the Police cannot say whether any of those taken into custody were the homeowners, but Insp Evans did say investigations into this matter are continuing.
Meanwhile, this latest bust is the most recent attempt by law enforcement officials to crack down on illegal gambling in the country. But authorities have admitted that the illegal gaming is increasing in the Family Islands. Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Crime, Reginald Ferguson, told The Guardian in January that despite already being challenged with busting illegal number houses in New Providence and Grand Bahama, the RBPF will have to focus its efforts on the Family Islands, where illegal gambling is said to be rampant.
Mr Ferguson said whenever there is increasing development and an increase in the population on certain Family Islands, the numbers racket seems to take off.
By: JASMIN BONIMY, The Nassau Guardian
