Venezuelan boat captain, crew member on guns, arms charges

Jason Barry Kullis St Clair, 33, was described as a person with no fixed place of abode in Trinidad.

Douglas Raphael Mendoza Gonzales, 28, magistrate Cheryl Ann Blake-Antoine was told, is from Rio Salado, Guira, Venezuela.

He was the captain of a pirogue named MV El Castigador which is currently berthed at King’s Wharf, San Fernando.

Their arrests stemmed from investigations by Customs and Excise Division on Friday in which the boat was confiscated.

Blake-Antoine read to both men that they attempted to import into the country a Smith and Wesson gun and a Colt firearm together with five rounds of ammunition.

Attorney Devvon Williams represented Mendoza Gonzales and pleaded for bail to be granted to him, telling Blake-Antoine that he has no previous convictions and a fixed place of abode in Venezuela. Attorney Abigail Roach who represented St Clair, pleaded for bail as well and admitted although he is a national, he lives in Venezuela and is often back and forth. She said he stays in a hotel whenever he is in Trinidad.

Attorney for the Customs and Excise Division, Harricharan Cassie, objected to bail being granted saying that the importation of guns into the country was becoming quite known and popular to law enforcement agencies.

Blake-Antoine remanded the men into custody to reappear before her tomorrow.