A SAN FERNANDO businessman has been charged with illegally transferring a firearm and ammunition to his driver.
One Firearm User’s License (FUL), 27 assorted firearms and 800 rounds of assorted ammunition were also seized during an intelligence-led anti-crime operation, conducted in the Southern Division between Friday and Tuesday.
On Wednesday, a release from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) stated that Damian Laing, a 43-year-old businessman of Mayaro and also of Block 2, Palmiste, San Fernando, was charged with transferring firearm and ammunition.
He was scheduled to appear at the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Brian Lendor, a 26-year-old driver of Mayaro, who was charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition and resisting arrest, appeared at the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Lendor pleaded guilty to the charges, was denied bail and remains in custody.
The matter was adjourned to July 20.
According to police reports, on Friday, the Southern Division Operation and Intelligence Unit, along with members of the Southern Division Task Force, proceeded to a restaurant located at South Park, San Fernando, and conducted surveillance on patrons at the said establishment.
Lendor, a patron, was arrested and subsequently charged for being in possession of a Smith and Wesson bodyguard .380 pistol and seven rounds of .380 ammunition.
The driver is not the holder of a Firearm User’s License or a Firearm User’s (Employee Certificate).
After the arrest, an investigation was led by Insp Phillip and Sgt Wilkinson of the Southern Division Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into the ownership of the firearm and ammunition.
This resulted in the arrest of the second suspect, Laing, who was subsequently charged by Sgt Wilkinson for the offence of transferring the firearm and ammunition to Lendor, his driver.
Further investigations resulted in the FUL and quantities of assorted firearms and assorted ammunition being found and seized at the home of a relative of one of the accused, police said.
The exercise was coordinated by Snr Supt Winchester, ASP Jaikaran and Insp Phillip and supervised by Sgt Williams and Sgt Wilkinson and executed by officers of the Southern Division Operations and Intelligence Unit.
