Officers of the Eastern Division seized 596 grammes of marijuana and arrested eight suspects on Wednesday for various offences during Operation Blue Line.
The suspects, ages 25-39, from Damarie Hill, Sangre Grande, Matura and Mayaro districts, were held in connection with Shooting with Intent, Possession of Cannabis, Breach of a Protection Order offences and outstanding warrants.
Operation Blue Line is an ongoing initiative of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), introduced by the Commissioner of Police, Erla Harewood-Christopher, which utilises intelligence-led and anti-gang operations to dismantle criminal networks and nefarious activities throughout all 10 Policing Divisions.
During the exercises, several drug blocks and priority offenders were raided by officers of the Eastern Division Gang and Intelligence Unit (EDGIU), Mayaro Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Rio Claro CID, Mayaro and Sangre Grande Task Forces, Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and the Mounted and Canine Branch.
In the first operation in the Sangre Grande district, a 29-year-old man from Damarie Hill and a 31-year-old man were both held for the offence of Possession of 128 and 132 Grammes of Cannabis, respectively.
Police also arrested a 25-year-old man from North Eastern Settlement, Sangre Grande, relative to a recent report of Shooting with Intent in the same area. Sangre Grande CID is continuing investigations into this matter.
In the second exercise in the Mayaro district, police arrested a 39-year-old man from Mayaro for Possession of 230 Grammes of Cannabis and a 31-year-old man from Mayaro for Possession of 106 Grammes of Cannabis. Both suspects are being questioned by SIU and EDGIU detectives in connection with suspected gang activities and are expected to be charged with drug possession offences.
Meanwhile, a 35-year-old man from Pierreville, Mayaro, was detained on enquiries relative to an outstanding report of Breach of a Protection Order and a 26-year-old man from Mafeking Village, Mayaro, was arrested on an outstanding warrant.
In Matura, police officers arrested a 31-year-old from the district, relative to a report of Shooting with Intent that occurred in the area.
Investigations are ongoing.
CoP Harewood-Christopher says, “The TTPS is maintaining pressure on criminal networks and their players. We continue to target those known to finance criminal activities, such as the illegal drug trade, which feed into more serious crimes which sometimes are resulting in firearm-related offences and even murder.”
“The sustained disruptions of these types of activities will incrementally achieve results and bolster the police’s efforts and evidential bank in securing further prosecutions, placing criminals behind bars and away from law-abiding citizens,” she asserted.
Citizens are encouraged to report suspected criminal activities via the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners of Police’s Hotline at
736-TTPS (8877), its Anti-Crime Hotline at 555, or via CRIME STOPPERS at 800-TIPS.