Three held, three guns seized in Central

Officers of the Central Division believe they may be able to solve a major gun-smuggling ring with the arrest of three persons, and the seizure of three guns on Tuesday afternoon. The guns are believed to have originated in Venezuela and investigators believe that the weapons are being smuggled into the country from Venezuela via the Gulf of Paria. Each gun is sold at $5,000 and police feel that in some instances, the guns are being rented by persons involved in crime. They also feel that several of the guns which were smuggled into the country have been distributed to criminal elements.

The three suspects who were arrested on Tuesday were questioned by senior officers yesterday. Senior officers said yesterday that they have put together an anti-crime plan to deal with gun-related crimes during the Christmas season. Between Friday and Tuesday, eight guns were recovered by Central Division officers. Four were recovered on Tuesday, two on Friday, and another two over the weekend. ACP Operations Oswyn Allard, who co-ordinated the sting operation on Tuesday, was high in praise for the efforts of the Central Division officers who seized the eight guns. Reports revealed that around 5.15 pm on Tuesday, a party of officers led by Sgt Dennis Housend and including Ag Sgt Ajith Persad and PCs Toolaran, Sheppard, Alexander and others went to Basta Hall Village, Couva.

Police officers were placed at strategic points to carry out surveillance duties. A car with three occupants was later seen driving towards the area and the driver was told to stop. A 25-year-old man of Indian Trail Village, who jumped out of the vehicle and into a precipice, was arrested shortly after he made his dash for freedom. Two other occupants of the car, ages 25 and 27, were arrested and a .380 pistol, two .38 revolvers and one live round of ammunition seized. The suspects were taken to the Chaguanas CID where they were interviewed, fingerprinted, photographed and detained. The three are expected to appear before a Chaguanas magistrate today.