The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) executed targeted operations across various policing division over the past 24 hours, leading to the seizure of three firearms, a quantity of ammunition, along with other contraband material suspected to be used to perform robberies.
Between 10 pm on Friday 22nd March 2024 and 5 am on Saturday 23rd March, the Western Division Gang and Intelligence Unit conducted an exercise in the West End Police District. Around 1:30 am the officers proceeded to a basketball court in the Covigne Road, Diego Martin area.
During a search of the area, they found one black coloured Glock magazine containing seventeen 17 rounds of .9 mm ammunition, one rusty silver and grey empty magazine, one black tactical jacket, one blue tactical jacket with ‘POLICE’ velcro patches, one back firearm holster, one pair of black coloured gloves, one black and white hat with the word ‘POLICE’ embroidered to the front along with the TTPS emblem and one green camouflage ski mask in the storm drain. PC Ramkripaul is continuing enquiries.
Meanwhile, during a stop and search exercise in the North Eastern Division yesterday, while in the vicinity of a bar located at Mt. Lambert Road, officers observed a man who was liming at the said bar, throwing an object in a plastic bag over a galvanize fence on the eastern side of the roadway.
The officers retrieved the bag which contained one Beretta pistol, outfitted with one magazine containing seven rounds of 9-mm ammunition. A 24-year-old man from St. Augustine was subsequently arrested and conveyed to the Barataria Police Station to be charged.
Also, around 6:30 am yesterday in the South Western Division, WPC Vesprey in company with other members of the South Western Division Task Force (SWDTF) conducted an intelligence-led anti-crime exercise duty. The officers proceeded to an unfenced scrap yard in the vicinity of Los Iros Junction, Los Iros, where they searched the area and found a Glock 19 pistol on top of some steel pipes. WPC Vesprey took possession of the firearm and found a magazine containing 17 rounds of 9-mm ammunition.
During a roving exercise conducted between 12 noon and 3 pm yesterday in the Northern Division -North, officers proceeded to a hardware located at Eastern Main Road Arouca, based on information received. There they observed a man and conducted a search, during which time they found one 9-mm pistol outfitted with a magazine and 14 rounds of 9-mm ammunition. The suspect is currently in police custody.
Around 5:50 pm yesterday, PC Ramlochan was on exercise duty along the South Trunk Road, Mosquito Creek when he stopped a Toyota Yaris motor car. When he searched the vehicle, he found five rounds of 12-gauge cartridges. A 21-year-old man from Rousillac was arrested in connection with the ammunition seizure.
Also, while on patrol in Icacos, officers of the Praedial Larceny Squad stopped and searched a vehicle, resulting in the discovery of uncustomed goods, namely 13 buckets of cheese, 36 bottles of rum, and male clothing. Four persons were detained, and the items were seized and handed over to Customs and Excise. One of the suspects, a Venezuelan is also being detained for illegal entry into the country.
Investigations are continuing.