A coordinated, multi-unit law enforcement operation targeting high-priority areas across multiple communities in Castrie has led to the arrest and formal charging of a local man, after investigators recovered a identifiable part of a prohibited firearm during a court-authorized search.
The enforcement action, carried out on Wednesday, May 13, brought together three specialized divisions of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF): the Gangs, Narcotics and Firearms Unit, the Special Services Unit, and the Central Intelligence Unit. Planning for the operation centered on three key neighborhoods: Wilton Yard, Grass Street, and Leslie Land, where law enforcement teams carried out searches of four separate residential structures in the area.
Acting on a judicially approved search warrant, officers entered the Leslie Land residence of Elijah Benjamin Khodra, a man also known locally by the alias “Beh Ben”. During the systematic search of the property, investigators uncovered a part confirmed to be the backplate for a Glock pistol, a classified firearm component under Saint Lucian law.
Following the recovery, Khodra was taken into police custody and formally charged with possession of an unlicensed weapon component, a violation of Section 22(3) of the island’s Firearm Act. He made his initial appearance shortly after at the First District Court for a bail hearing, where the judge granted his release on $15,000 in cash bail, or an alternative acceptable surety bond.
In a public statement released after the operation, the RSLPF reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to cracking down on individuals connected to illegal weapons, gang activity, and other organized crime across the island, with the core goal of reestablishing a sense of safety and security for all Saint Lucian residents.
To continue advancing these public safety efforts, law enforcement officials are calling on members of the public with any knowledge of ongoing criminal activity in their communities to share what they know. Tips can be submitted by visiting the nearest local police station, calling the dedicated Crime Hotline at 555, or using the RSLPF’s official Crime Hotline mobile application, which is available for download on the Google Play Store for Android users.