Police have seized cocaine with an estimated street value of $19.2 million and arrested 12 people during ongoing anti-crime operations across the country.
In the latest exercise, officers of the Tunapuna Criminal Investigations Department (CID) conducted a house-search operation in the North-Central Division (NCD) between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. yesterday, with the assistance of the NCDTF Area West, NCDTF Area East, and the Arouca and St Joseph CIDs, police said in a media release.
A search of a house at Bamboo Settlement #3, Valsayn, resulted in the discovery of one air rifle and one pistol loaded with a magazine containing 13 rounds of ammunition.
Three suspects who were on the premises at the time of the exercise were arrested.
In another exercise, this time in the Northern Division (ND), officers of the NDTF and Arima Police Station conducted an exercise coordinated by ACP Rishi Singh, W/Snr Supt Maynard-Wilson and Supt Guelmo between 10.30 p.m. on Thursday and 2 a.m. yesterday.
During the exercise, officers responded to separate reports of common assault and robbery in the D’Abadie district.
The officers intercepted a Nissan Almera car with four men shortly after.
A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of an imitation firearm and the recovery of the items stolen from the victims in the robbery incident, police stated.
The four suspects, ages 18 to 25, all of D’Abadie, were arrested in connection with the matter.
12 packets
of cocaine
Meanwhile, in Area South of the ND, officers intercepted two vehicles along the Solomon Hochoy Highway, in the vicinity of Grand Bazaar, on Thursday evening.
“A search of the vehicles resulted in the discovery of a total of 12 packets of cocaine weighing 13.8 kilogrammes.
“The drug has an estimated street value of TT$19,236,096. Three male suspects, ages 19 to 36, all of Fyzabad, were arrested in connection with the find,” the release stated.
In the Central Division, officers of the Gang Unit conducted an exercise between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday, during which they responded to a report of men brandishing firearms in Flanagin Town. Acting on information received, one 20-year-old suspect was arrested, and one Smith & Wesson pistol loaded with a magazine containing four rounds of ammunition was seized from his possession.
In the Tobago Division, an operation conducted at the Scarborough Port between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Thursday, resulted in the search of a Mitsubishi flatbed, which was disembarking the Cabo Star ferry.
The search led to the discovery of 2.8 kilogrammes of compressed cannabis in the vehicle.
A 24-year-old man was arrested in connection with the find, police stated.