By Sue-Ann Wayow
ALMOST 100 people were arrested, nine illegal firearms and a quantity of narcotics seized over the Easter long weekend.
Additionally, 40 drivers were found to be driving under the influence of alcohol.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) in a press release on Monday evening stated that numerous patrols and exercises throughout all policing divisions across the country were conducted.
Operations over the weekend were co-ordinated by ACP Joanne Archie performing the duties of DCP Operations.
She said, “The TTPS is aware that road traffic exercises may be a momentary annoyance to motorists. However, given that 40 drivers were found to be driving under the influence of alcohol over the weekend proves that these exercises are effective and necessary.”
The TTPS also stated, “The TTPS is certain that motorists would prefer being temporarily delayed by police rather than being stopped permanently due to an encounter with a drunk driver.”
Over 1338 fixed penalty notices to errant motorists were issued over the weekend, as speeding and reckless driving has resulted in a 25% increase in road traffic fatalities in 2022 as compared to the same period in 2021, the TTPS stated.
Police also seized nine guns which resulted in the arrest of 15 persons between last Thursday and Monday.
Arms, ammunition found in Couva
The TTPS reported that around 7 am on Monday, a party of officers from the Couva Criminal Investigations Department (CID) were on exercise duty along Railway Road, Couva when they observed a man standing under the metal bridge holding a large crocus bag. When officers approached, the man dropped the bag, which when searched contained one AR-15 assault rifle, one Glock 19 pistol with one extended magazine containing 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition, one magazine containing 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition, four packets containing marijuana, six packets of cocaine and one Central Division Task Force (CDTF) tactical jacket and a quantity of medical vials containing medicine. The items were seized and the man was arrested.
Six persons were arrested on Friday in the North Central Division after police seized a Beretta pistol with 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition during a house search exercise. Four persons were also arrested on Thursday during a roadblock exercise conducted in the San Raphael district of the Northern Division, after officers seized one firearm with one extended magazine and 12 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
One man was also arrested for being in possession of a firearm and ammunition in the Southern Division after officers of the Ste Madeleine Police Station searched several drug blocks and houses in the area.
One Smith and Wesson Revolver and nine rounds of .38 ammunition were seized when officers of the Northern Division searched a man from Maloney who was arrested for being in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Police also seized three other firearms over the weekend.
Marijuana seized
When officers of the Western Division executed a search warrant at a house located at Richplain, Diego Martin, they seized four brown coloured rectangular blocks each containing marijuana. The marijuana weighed approximately two kilogrammes and a man was arrested and conveyed to the St James Police Station.
A further 1.3 kilogrammes of marijuana was seized during various exercises across the country over the weekend, the TTPS stated.
