Two arrested; firearm and cannabis seized

Two men were arrested and a firearm along with a large quantity of cannabis were seized during separate police operations in the Western and South Western Divisions on Sunday.

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), the first exercise took place between 12:30 am and 3 am at Good Session Drive, Patna Village, Diego Martin. Acting on intelligence, officers of the Western Division Task Force searched beneath a tree and discovered a Mini Ingram firearm concealed inside an old car door. The weapon was fitted with a magazine containing nine rounds of 9mm ammunition.

The firearm and ammunition were taken to the St. James Police Station. While searches were conducted for a suspect, no one was found. Investigations continue. The exercise was sanctioned by Senior Superintendent Williams, spearheaded by Inspector Grant, coordinated by Acting Sergeant Hunte, and supervised by Corporal Sahadath and Acting Corporal Peters.

Later that day, between 5 pm and 8 pm, a multi-agency operation involving the South Western Division Task Force and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard resulted in the seizure of cannabis and the arrest of two men off the coast of Erin.

Senior Superintendent Thompson and Superintendent Jaggernath spearheaded the exercise, which was coordinated by Assistant Superintendents Corrie, Forbes, and Lewis, Inspector Prescott, and Midshipman J Douglas. Officers intercepted a white 20-foot vessel powered by a 200-horsepower Yamaha engine after reports of a vessel of interest heading toward Erin Beach.

A search of the vessel uncovered five bales containing 252 packets of cannabis. The two occupants, a 20-year-old fisherman of Chatham Beach Road South and a 26-year-old fisherman of Erin Beach Road, Erin, were arrested on suspicion of possession of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

The suspects and vessel were escorted to Cedros Port, where the exhibits were processed by officers of the South Western Division Task Force. Crime Scene Investigators also documented the seizure.

Police said both operations formed part of ongoing efforts under Operation R.E.S.O.L.U.T.E. Shield to target illegal firearms and narcotics across the country.