Police have detained 21 illegal Venezuelans in Chatham, South Trinidad. The arrests were made by officers of the Cedros Police Station, the South Western Division Task Force (SWDTF) and the Emergency Response Patrol (ERP).
The group, comprising of 13 males, four females, and four children, was attempting to enter the country illegally via a beach in the Chatham area.
Two officers proceeded to the Chatham coastline around 6:45am yesterday after information from the South Western Operations Centre reported an unidentified vessel in the area.
There, they observed a large group of persons walking along a track from the coastline, leading to an abandoned two-storey house. The officers pursued the group and took up strategic positions while awaiting the arrival of SWDTF and the ERP.
After the Venezuelans entered the building, the officers identified themselves and detained the group. While attempting to manage the situation and preserve order, the officers observed one man holding a white crocus bag, attempting to return to the shore.
One officer intercepted the man and relieved him of the bag which contained a 16-gauge shotgun.
The firearm was seized and the group was taken to be tested for the COVID-19 virus and to be quarantined.
Investigations are continuing into the matter.
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