TWENTY firearms have been seized from the Eastern Division of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).
The latest seizure was of an AR-15 last Saturday in Sangre Grande, following which a 17-year-old teenager was arrested.
The TTPS in a news release on Tuesday stated, “The Division is also recording a 100 per cent detection rate in reports of possession of firearms and ammunition, with all 47 cases being solved for the period January 1 to May 13.”
For the year, the Eastern Division has seized two rifles, two revolvers, six pistols and ten homemade shotguns.
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 to 24, down from 71 in the corresponding period last year, the TTPS revealed, representing a 66% decrease of possession of firearms and possession of ammunition.
The 17-year-old suspect who was held with the high powered rifle found in his bedroom in Sangre Grande was expected to appear before the Children’s Court on Tuesday charged with a series of offences stemming from the incident.
He was charged on Monday with the possession of a firearm, possession of a magazine and possession of ammunition by PC Dabreo of the Eastern Division Gang and Intelligence Unit (EDGIU) after being arrested on Saturday.
The juvenile was subsequently taken to the Booking Centre at the Maracas/St Joseph Police Station pending further enquiries.
The TTPS also renewed its call to citizens to continue providing actionable information to its hotlines to assist police officers in their fight against crime.
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.
