Philipsburg;--- Police conducted a safety control on weapons and illegal drugs at the Sint Maarten Vocational School located in South Reward by request and under supervision of the principal Mr. V. RICHARDS, assisted by members of the local police force ( Zero Tolerance Team) , members of the VKS and the Customs (K-9) .
Even though the officers were not successful in finding weapons and drugs during the control the school principal turned over to police a several plastic bags containing several machetes, several types of knives in different sizes, screwdrivers, lighters, small plastic bags containing small amounts of marijuana, a bottle of Johnny Walker Red Label Whisky and several bandana's head ties of different colors. (Color of bandanas indicates which gang you are affiliated to).
RICHARDS told police that those items had been confiscated from students of that school by him and other teachers a short while back.
This control was carried out with the intention, to locate and confiscate any weapons and or illegal drugs that any of the students may have brought to school, which was also the case with the control at the Sint Maarten Academy PSVE.
This school has also been identified, as one of the schools, of which several of the students who attend that school have been involved in serious fights and confrontations where weapons came into play. There have also been strong indications, that students of that school may be using drugs.
During the search three scissors and a cutting tool was found in the bags of the some students. The drug dog of the Customs was sent in to sniff through the classrooms even though the dog reacted several times to the presence of some type of illegal drug, no drugs were found.
After the search, Inspector Ricardo HENSON was given opportunity to speak to the students informing them of the reason for the search. He also gave them a speak about violence in general, gang violence, drugs and drug abuse and the negative consequences they have.
