Claxton Bay businessman among 23 held in raids

A Claxton Bay businessman was among 23 persons arrested in an exercise carried out on Thursday and early yesterday in Central Division. The 32-year-old  businessman was driving a car close to his Claxton Bay home on Thursday, when he was approached by officers. His car was searched and approximately half kilo of cocaine was found in his possession. He was promptly arrested. Officers then went to Caparo where they executed a search warrant at a house and arrested a 27-year old man wanted for questioning into the recent kidnapping of 19-year-old Shirvan Ramkrishna.

Ramkrishna was snatched from his Palmiste home two weeks ago. He was released in Curepe after relatives paid a $200,000 ransom. Officers accompanied by sniffer dog “Demi” then searched a Felicity house and arrested a 23-year-old man and seized a quantity of marijuana. At Cashew Gardens, Palmiste, another house was raided and a 40-year-old man wanted for several break-ins was arrested and a quantity of stolen jewelry recovered.

A gambling den was also raided by the officers who arrested two women and three men. A bag containing cash and cards were seized. Several drug blocks were raided and several persons were held on outstanding warrants. The exercise was led by Inspector Burt Raphael, Sgts Lumy, Sylvester and Ag Sgt Ajith Persad. Other officers included Ag Sgts Mckenzie, Ramlogan, Williams, and Detectives Alexander, Toola-ram, Edward Ali and Pierre. Those arrested will appear before a Chaguanas magistrate on Tuesday.