Cops, Army seize 3 guns

THE Anti Crime Unit (ACU), comprising police and army officials early yesterday morning arrested five men and seized two Smith and Wesson .38 special revolvers and six rounds of .38 ammunition.

Seizure of the two revolvers brings to three, the number of guns seized in less than 48 hours by the joint police/army contingent.  A .380 Lorcin pistol was found Sunday night when members of the Anti Crime Unit challeneged a man at Picton, Laventille.  The man ran and left the pistol behind, along with five rounds of .380 ammunition. In yesterday’s seizure, police said around 4.30 am PCs Brown and Beckles along with Army Privates Alfred, Griffith and Narrett, were on mobile patrol duty in the Second Caledonia, Morvant, area. The joint police/army contingent had cause to stop a black B13 Nissan Sentra vehicle proceeding in a southerly direction along the same road. Police said the team stopped and searched the vehicle, in which the two Smith and Wesson revolvers were found.  The five men, said by the police to be “very young” were promptly arrested and taken into police custody.

Police sources told Newsday the men will be placed on a number of identification parades relative to murders in the Laventille and Morvant area as well as other serious reported crimes in the country.  The men may make a court appearance today. Supervisor of the Anti Crime Unit, Sr Supt Gilbert Reyes was high in praise for the group of officers, but stated that there was still “too much” guns on the streets, and appealed for the public’s help in identifying the gun carriers. The Anti Crime Unit is based in one of the old Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) buildings, and is in close proximity to the Vehicle Maintenance Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago, Beetham Highway. The Unit was formed last March to assist in the fight against crime.  Since then, the members have been to areas in Chatham and Point Fortin, and have spent as much as 12 days away from home, sources said. 

Since the death of Muslimeen member, Mark Guerra, however, sources said the unit has changed its focus to the Laventille area. The unit has approximately 70 members, comprising police and army officials.  The police officers have been taken from the Crime Suppression Unit (CSU), Task Forces, Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB) and CIDs across the country.