7 in court
A surprise exercise by police on Sunday in Valencia resulted in the seizure of a hand grenade, several guns and ammunition. Seven persons, including a prisons officer, were arrested. According to police reports, a party of police officers, headed by Sen Supt Rothven Bastein of Eastern Division, executed search warrants on several homes in Valencia about 11 am Sunday. At Evergreen Avenue, Valencia, police found one pump action shotgun, a Brazilian hand grenade, four homemade shotguns, a number of 12-gauge cartridges, three daggers, one jagged-edge cutlass, other offensive weapons, and a volume of the Laws of The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Seven occupants who were at the home were arrested. They appeared in the Sangre Grande court yesterday before Magistrate Cheryl-Ann Blake. The seven charged indictably are: prisons officer Ian Campbell, 28; Nyla Ragbir, 19; Benji Ragbir, 54, and his son, Nyron, 24; Kendall Gonzales, 22; Nigel Smith, 24, and Rajeev Singh, 22, all of Evergreen Avenue, Valencia. They were remanded in custody to reappear today during which time the police are expected to trace the seven accused. Among the police officers in the raiding party were Cpls WPC Whiskey Williams, Felix Lucas, PCs Junior Bernard, Verne Greaux, Lenny Mc Queen, Sean D’ Andrade, Sean Jones and Earnest Lara of the Valencia post. The seven arrested were charged by PC Bernard with possession of firearms and ammunition and possession of a hand grenade. Sen Supt Bastein said this was the beginning of an exercise to eradicate the criminal element in East Trinidad. He said he was surprised by the discovery because those arrested were not well-armed and appeared to have knowledge of the laws of Trinidad and Tobago as a TT law book was also found in the house. "You see," he said, "they are not only preparing to carry out their criminal activities, but also getting knowledge of the laws for their defence. "Just as they are busy planning to carry out their wicked activities," Bastien said he will ensure that everything will be done to get rid of these bad eggs who have brought havoc, restlessness, distress and much fear among law abiding citizens." He lamented, "these activities have to stop, they must stop, people must feel free to enjoy their freedom once more."
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"7 in court"