$1 million in ganja seized — three held

A massive exercise involving 60 police and Coast Guard officers at Bamboo Village, in the vicinity of the banks of the Caroni River, yesterday resulted in the seizure of several crocus bags containing 30 kilos of compressed marijuana with a street value of $1 million, and the arrest of three persons.

Police investigators believe that the drugs was transported by boat along the Caroni River, and then taken to a house where it was concealed in crocus bags. It was reportedly purchased in Venezuela, and one of the three men arrested has a matter pending in court for drug trafficking in cocaine at the Tunapuna Magistrate’s Court. Around 8 am yesterday, officers acting on information contacted the Coast Guard and the Police Helicopter Unit for back up assistance. Several Coast Guard officers boarded Coast Guard boats and carried out surveillance on the Caroni River, while officers of the Guard and Emergency Branch, the Canine Section and the Central Division officers hid in bushes while doing surveillance of the area.

Officers waited for more than one hour until they received a tip off, then cordoned off the Bamboo Village. At the banks of the Caroni River, all occupants in boats were searched as the Coast Guard officers boarded the vessels with sniffer dogs as part of the exercise. Some residents of Bamboo Village complained bitterly about the police presence, while others welcomed the searches. They claimed that the Caroni River is being used to transport drugs purchased in Venezuela and the illicit activities continue to flourish on a daily basis. Newsday learned that  officers of the police helicopter unit carried out surveillance by air to ensure that no occupants in boats tried to escape.

The search of houses along the banks of the river continued with the assistance of sniffer dogs, Kiki and Asha. At one house, officers found the crocus bags concealed under a wooden flooring. The three occupants of the house ages 42, 37, and 28 were promptly arrested by the team of officers. Officers also searched a car at Bamboo, following reports that the occupants were in possession of a gun. Sniffer dog Kiki sniffed in and around the car for more than five minutes but nothing was found. The occupants of the car were made to sit on the ground as police searched  the vehicle. Following the arrests and seizures, ACP Crime Oswyn Allard was high in praise of the police activities. He said that officers of the Central Division have been working around-the-clock to keep crime down to a minimum in that division and their efforts have resulted in seizures of guns, ammunition, drugs, arrests of hard core criminals and raids on brothels where illicit activities take place. He revealed that he will be rewarding the officers for their hard work next week.

The exercise yesterday was coordinated by the ACP Crime and led by Inspector Burt Raphael, Sgt Dennis Housend and Ag Sgt Ajith Persad. Other officers taking part in the exercise included PCs Ramsook, Williams, Dhanai, Sinnan, Alexander, Tooleram, Wiltshire, Sheppard, Brandon John, Edward Ali and others. The Coast Guard officers were led by officer Best.