OVER $440,000 worth in illegal narcotics have been seized by police.

Officers of the National Special Operations Unit (NSOU), supported by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) K-9 Unit and the National Security Special Operations Group, executed a precision policing exercise in the Sangre Grande Police Station district, Eastern Division leading to the seizure.

The TTPS stated, the operation, conducted between 10.30 am and 3 pm on Tuesday, was led by ACP Criminal Division, Michael Pierre and supervised by ASP Ag St Clair.

Initial searches of two residences at Darmanie Hill, Guaico, yielded no illegal items.

However, based on additional intelligence from members of the community, the team proceeded to a nearby forested area approximately 150 feet north of the residences.

 There, officers discovered two white plastic buckets concealed in the bushes. A detailed examination revealed:

•         10 brown rectangular packets and five transparent plastic bags containing cannabis, weighing 10 kilograms with an estimated street value of $420,000.

•         Four transparent Ziplock bags, each containing cocaine, weighing 120 grams, with an approximate street value of $24,000.

•         One black Taurus G2C 9mm pistol fitted with a magazine.

Commissioner of Police, Allister Guevarro, commended the collaborative effort.

He said, “I wish to commend the officers for the outstanding work being carried out. I am particularly pleased with the level of effort and dedication being demonstrated in the tactical, traffic, and search operations, all of which complement our ongoing policing initiatives. Congratulations on these successes, and I encourage you to maintain this high standard of performance.”

In a separate incident police arrested three people and recovered two hydraulic pumps valued at $104,000 during an anti-crime exercise in the Southern Division.

Reports are that between 1 pm and 6.30 pm on Tuesday, officers of the Ste Madeline Criminal Investigations Department and the Ste Madeline Police Station conducted the exercise in the St Madeline District.

During the operation, three men were arrested: one from Bay Shore, Marabella, a 45-year-old from Princes Town, and a 36-year-old from Palo Seco.

 The latter two suspects were charged in connection with a report of larceny, after the hydraulic pumps were found in their possession.

 The operation was coordinated by Snr. Supt. Simon, Supt. Jaikaran and ASP Morales and supervised by acting Sgt. Chance and Cpl. Roopnarine.