In recent police operations, authorities made two significant successes against drug trafficking and illegal gun trafficking, including what Police Commissioner Erla Christopher described as the greatest capture of illicit guns in the history of the country.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service reports that during an intelligence-led exercise, police in Santa Cruz found and confiscated a “huge cache of high-powered, sophisticated weapons.”
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According to Police Commissioner Erla Christopher, the event may have been related to a recent shooting in which a jail officer who served as the Deputy Commissioner of Prisons’ driver was hurt.
“Our intelligence suggests that the seizures are linked to the suspects in the brazen attack earlier today on the life of the Deputy Commissioner of Prisons. Attacks against public officials will not be tolerated and the TTPS will certainly not be intimidated by any threats against law enforcement officers and law-abiding citizens.
“We serve notice on persons who seem prepared to disrupt law and order in this country, that we are closing in on them. The question is not “IF” but “WHEN” they will be detained. I want to advise persons wanting to challenge law enforcement that now is a good time to cease and desist. You will not succeed. We are coming for you.”
“This seizure represents a major breakthrough in our battle against the proliferation of illegal firearms and ammunitions, and we anticipate that it will significantly impact the commission of violent crimes involving the use of illegal weapons.”
The “deadliest of weapons,” according to the TTPS, were 13 firearms, including two AK-47 rifles, two Draco rifles, one M-16 rifle, two UZI submachine guns, one Beretta submachine gun, one Ruger rifle chambered in 30 calibers, and one Ruger Precision rifle chambered in 50 calibers.
The seizure also contained 1152 rounds of various ammunition, including armor-piercing rounds of 45 mm, 50 caliber, 12-gauge, 7.62 mm, 9 mm, and 6.5 calibers.
Ten Laser pointers, 23 rifle stocks, 53 trigger guards, 13 selectors, 15 triggers, four rear sights, and four buffers were among the significant weapon component components confiscated, according to the TTP.
They noted, “I commend all the officers involved in this seizure for another demonstration of precision policing and operational excellence in keeping with our Strategic Plan. This, and other exercises that officers continue to conduct throughout the country, help to increase the public’s trust and confidence that the TTPS is doing everything possible to ensure their safety and security. We encourage you to keep partnering with the Police. If you see something, say something. We can do this together. We have every confidence that we will bring an end to the criminal enterprise plaguing our beloved country.”
The TTPS also confiscated some cocaine worth around $500,000 in a separate event that was ostensibly meant for transshipment.
The TTPS claimed that the operation was directed by the intelligence division of the TTPS and officers of the Northern Division because of the discovery of a drug-trafficking network that used local courier services to ship drugs hidden among legitimate cargo to regional and international associates.
The TTPS then collaborated with its regional and international law enforcement partners to obtain further intelligence and information.
The group of cops stopped a shipment on Wednesday that included auto components and was headed for Antigua. The cops’ scanning revealed certain irregularities.
363 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value of $501, 812 were discovered during the authorities’ subsequent search of the package.
