Firearm seized; man arrested in Sangre Grande 

A firearm and ammunition were seized, and one man was arrested on drug-related charges during a coordinated anti-crime exercise carried out across the Sangre Grande district. 

According to a media release issued on Wednesday, officers of the Eastern Division Task Force conducted a roving road check, drug block search and intelligence-led operation between 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt criminal activity and drug trafficking in the area. 

During the exercise, officers targeted several locations identified as known drug-trafficking hotspots, including Jacob Coat in North-Eastern Settlement, Robinson Lane in Damarie Hill, Guaico, Moolchan Street, Shoppes of Cunapo and Quash Trace in Sangre Grande. 

Road checks were also established at multiple points throughout the district, including sections of the Eastern Main Road in Sangre Grande and Manzanilla, as well as Sangre Chiquito, Damarie Hill, North-Eastern Settlement and the Toco Main Road. 

Police said several vehicles and individuals were stopped, searched and interviewed. 

During the operation, officers arrested a 24-year-old man from Morrison Trace, Manzanilla, for possession of cocaine and failing to provide fingerprint impressions. Police alleged that approximately two grams of cocaine were found in his possession. 

In a separate development during the same exercise, officers acted on intelligence and went to a settlement in Sangre Grande where they searched a bushy area located about 15 feet north of the roadway. 

There, officers reportedly found a black shoulder bag containing a silver and brown revolver loaded with three rounds of .38 calibre ammunition. 

The firearm and ammunition were seized and investigations remain ongoing. 

The exercise was coordinated by Senior Superintendent Ettienne and Acting Inspector Harper and supervised by Acting Sergeant Rampersad.