Cops dismantle gang in Tunapuna and seize illegal fireworks in PoS

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has arrested 14 suspected gang members and drug dealers, seized two firearms, a quantity of ammunition, narcotics and illegal fireworks during several exercises overnight.

One Glock 31 Pistol, a Sig Sauer P226 Pistol, 429 grammes of marijuana, five grammes of cocaine and a cache of illegal fireworks were seized during the operations.

A Tunapuna woman was also arrested for setting off fireworks in Downtown, Port-of-Spain (PoS).

The exercises were executed in the Eastern, North-Central (NCD), PoS and Western Divisions.

In the first operation, in the NCD, police officers attached to the NCD Task Force West and Canine Branch, tackling the recent upsurge in homicides in the Tunapuna district, executed raids in areas known for gang activities and organised crime.

Police subsequently arrested seven suspected gang members, ages 18 to 19, two of which are women, from the Auzonville, Bamboo Trace, Maingot Road, Niles Street and Upper Fairley neighbourhoods who are currently being interrogated by detectives for various crimes which occurred in the district.

In the PoS Division, officers of the PoS Gang and Intelligence Unit (PoSGIU) seized a quantity of fireworks which was on display for the purpose of sales without a license along Charlotte and Queen Janelle Commissiong Streets and Independence Square, PoS.

Four suspects, two men and two women, from the Arima, Belmont and Laventille areas were arrested in connection with the seizure.

The PoSGIU also arrested a Tunapuna woman who was allegedly caught in the act of setting off fireworks while in Downtown, PoS. She is expected to be charged with the offence.

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Division, sustained drug eradication exercises resulted in the arrests of seven suspects and the seizure of 429 grammes of marijuana and five grammes of cocaine.

The suspects, from the Arima, North-Eastern Settlement, Sangre Grande and Mayaro areas, were arrested by Task Force and Criminal Investigations Department personnel and are expected to be charged with drug possession offences in the upcoming days.

Meanwhile, in the Western Division, Task Force officers executed a search warrant at the Carenage home of a man suspected to be selling dangerous drugs where they allegedly found a Glock 31 Pistol loaded with nine rounds of 357 ammunition.

The suspect was arrested and conveyed to the St James Police Station where he is expected to be charged with Possession of a Firearm and Possession of Ammunition.

WDTF officers also searched a bushy area along Cizan Trace, Diego Martin, where they allegedly found a Sig Sauer P226 Pistol.

The police officers also recovered a Rubbermaid cooler as well as a TPRO speaker box which are believed to be stolen in the Eastern Division.

PC Warrick is continuing enquiries into these finds.