Vincentian boats searched for drugs, guns, ammo

A MAJOR crackdown on illegal firearms and drugs took place for several hours at the Caricom Wharf on the Port Authority with vessels from St Vincent being searched yesterday, police sources told Newsday.

Up to late evening three vessels identified as the Persia II, the Stingray and Austrat Kingston, had been searched as they docked at the Caricom Wharf, sources said, adding that at least two more vessels were to be searched yesterday. The surprise search of the vessels began around 7 am and ended last night.  It was led by Assistant Commissioners of Police James Philbert (Criminal Intelligence and Investigations) and Oswyn Allard (Anti Crime Operations), and Customs preventive officer Singh. Members of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Customs Preventive Unit comprising the K-9 and Marine Interdiction Units, Immigration Department, the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force and officials of the Port Police took part in the lengthy exercise. Up to late evening, nothing illegal had been found and acting Commissioner of Police Everald Snaggs told Newsday that the search of the Port was based on intelligence information gathered.

Snaggs, who is out of the country, said in the past it has been discovered that there have been activities at the Port involving illegal drugs, firearms and ammunition. The top cop said the exercise was a co-ordinated one involving the police and Customs.  Sources close to the search told Newsday that the three vessels were followed from early yesterday morning from the “Bocas” to make sure  nothing illegal was thrown overboard. The vessels then docked at the Caricom Wharf after which they were searched from top to bottom.  Senior police officers said that several illegal things have been coming into the country and a number of serious crimes, in particular gun-related ones, are being committed as a result. “We can’t just let things come in here and don’t stop it,” a senior officer said adding that Trinidad and Tobago is often used as a transshipment point for illegal activities. The senior officer also said that every day firearms are being seized by the police, yet more gun-related offences are being committed daily, pointing out that guns are being sold for a meagre $2,500.