2 schoolboys held with Baretta

In a late evening raid, members of the Port-of-Spain task force led by Sergeant Daniel Moore seized a 9mm Baretta semi-automatic pistol, 15 rounds of ammunition and arrested two teenaged schoolboys in the Laventille area.

At around 5.45 pm yesterday, officers on an exercise went to a house at Plaisance Terrace, Laventille, where they found the ammunition and arrested the 17-year-old youths from the area. A third youth managed to escape. Also visiting the scene were Corporal Kester Billy and Constables Ancil Maharaj, Andre Forgenie, Christopher Aroon, Mohammed and Andrew Farrel.

Police sources told Newsday they had no idea what the plan for the gun was and that such an uncommon weapon in the wrong hands could be very dangerous. The gun has the capacity to fire 16 rounds of bullets in rapid mili-seconds. The youths are expected to appear before several identifications parades today, following which they will appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate.

In a related matter, officers of the Inter-Agency Task force, together with members of the Port- of-Spain Court and Process, CID and the licensing office department staged a midday-to-4.30 pm roadblock at the John John flyover, which netted 39 persons. Four were held for outstanding warrants for robberies and 35 were cited for traffic violations. Fifteen drivers were ordered to remove illegal tints on the spot. The exercise was headed by Ag Inspectors Clyde Breton and Sahadeo Singh. The four arrested men are to appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate today.