The latest seizure of an AR-15 last Saturday in the Sangre Grande district brings the total to date to 20 firearms removed from the streets of the Eastern Division.
This according to the TTPS, as the Division also recorded a 100 per cent detection rate in reports of Possession of Firearms and Ammunition, with all 47 cases being solved for the period January 1st to May 13th.
In a media release issued by the police service, for the year, the Eastern Division has seized two rifles, two revolvers, six pistols and 10 homemade shotguns.
Equally, statistics provided by the Crime and Problem Analysis (CAPA) Branch have revealed a decline in the reports of Possession of Firearm and Possession of Ammunition by 24, down from 71 in the corresponding period last year. This represents a 66 per cent decrease of Possession of Firearms and Possession of Ammunition.
Meanwhile, the 17-year-old suspect who was held with the high powered rifle is expected to appear before the Children Court today charged with a series of offences stemming from the incident.
The teenager was charged yesterday with Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Magazine and Possession of Ammunition by
PC Dabreo of the Eastern Division Gang and Intelligence Unit (EDGIU).
He was arrested on May 13th after EDGIU and Eastern Division Task Force police officers executed a raid at the suspect’s North Eastern Settlement, Sangre Grande home, in search of illegal firearms and ammunition.
During the operation, police officers allegedly found one black AR-15 equipped with one magazine, 21 rounds of 5.56 ammunition, 50 rounds of nine millimetre ammunition and one drum magazine and 55 rounds of nine millimetre ammunition in the accused bedroom.
The juvenile was subsequently taken to the Booking Centre at the Maracas/St. Joseph Police Station pending further enquiries.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is renewing its call to citizens to continue providing actionable information to its hotlines to have a further dent in this type of serious crime which is contributing to serious injuries, and in other cases, fatalities.
Anyone with information on illegal firearms can contact the TTPS’ Anti-Crime Hotline at 555, any police station or call CRIME STOPPERS at 800-TIPS.
Source: TTPS