By Sue-Ann Wayow
FOLLOWING intensive investigations, over $100 million worth of marijuana was seized by police officers.
The seizure took place on Wednesday around 9 pm when police intercepted a Kia K2700 vehicle in the vicinity of Paria Suites, La Romain.
According to police reports, sometime last month, an investigative unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) received information that a drug trafficking network with ties to Colombian and Venezuelan cartels, was operating in the Southwestern peninsula.
Officers acted on the information and conducted rigorous surveillance, where several key members of the network were identified, the TTPS stated in a release on Thursday.
The police received certain information about a location in the Southern Division where the drug trafficking network had intentions to import a large amount of narcotics.
Based on this development, the TTPS mobilised a team who coordinated an operation resulting in the interception of the vehicle.
When officers searched the vehicle, they found 28 plastic wrapped bales containing 704 kilograms of high grade marijuana, with a street value of $105,473,280.
Police officers took possession of the marijuana and arrested the two occupants of the intercepted vehicle. The narcotics, vehicle and two suspects were all taken to the Marabella Police Station, where further inquiries are being conducted, the release stated.
Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher promised that the TTPS will continue to dismantle the illegal systems, networks and operations.
She said, “This significant drug seizure proves that everyone benefits when members of the public work alongside the police.”
