Sint Maarten gives police extra powers to stop and search people

Police officers in Sint Maarten have been given extended clearance to stop and search people. The Public Prosecution Service implemented this measure as a reaction to the increasing number of shootings in the country and riots in the neighborhood of the Dutch Quarter last Sunday.

Police officers are authorized to seize firearms in and around that neighborhood for 24 hours, which could be extended.

Last Sunday, control of fireweapons got out of hand in the area after a report had come in of a shooting. This resulted in a confrontation between the police and the local residents. A blockade was set up, and a supermarket had to be protected from looting.

Over ten people were arrested during the riots, and four cars were set on fire, one of them being a police car. Soldiers from Sint Maarten and Curacao accompanied the police. A Dutch soldier was injured.

There has been a lot of gun violence on the island. A total of nine people have been wounded, with five deaths in 2024. There have been 140 incidents reported regarding guns or gun violence in the year.

According to the police, gun violence is creating a sense of insecurity on the island as several incidents occurred near entertainment venues, businesses, and schools.