Task Force cops arrest 15, seize drugs and stolen items

Fifteen drug dens were searched and 15 persons including two women were arrested, during an exercise carried out by officers of the Central Division Task Force. The exercise started at 3 am and ended at 4 pm yesterday.

It was led by Head of the Task Force Cpl Ajith Persad and coordinated by Snr Supt Philip Carmona, Supt Felix Nimrod and ASP Anthony Bernanrd. During the exercise, officers also searched several homes in Couva, Las Lomas, Chandernagore, Freeport, Tabaquite, and  Enterprise. At Chin Chin Road, Cunupia, a 33-year-old woman was arrested after a warrant was executed at her home. A quantity of alcoholic beverages were seized and the woman was charged with selling alcohol without a licence. At Mahaica Village, Cunupia, another man was charged with the same offence.

Another  man was held on an outstanding warrant at Tabaquite for malicious damage while at Perseverance Village, Couva, four persons were arrested for possesion of cocaine and marijuana. An 18-year-old woman who allegedly began cursing officers after her brother was arrested on drug charges was searched and she was also charged with possession of cocaine, resisting arrest and obscene language. Officers later went to Ragoonanan Trace, Chandernagore, where they saw a man walking with a crocus bag. On seeing the officers he dropped the bag and ran away. He was held a short distance away and the bag was found to contain a stereo which was stolen from the home of a Freeport pastor. The man was also searched and a quantity of cocaine discovered in his pants.

The exercise yesterday forms part of the anti-crime initiative launched by Police Commissioner Hilton Guy. 260 persons have been arrested in exercises carried out by the Central Division Task Force since January. Special emphasis is being placed on raiding drug dens and the seizure of illegal firearms. Police Commissioner Hilton Guy noted that more than 50 percent of the murders are being committed with the use of illegal guns. Other officers taking part in the exercise included PCs Ramsook, James, Pierre, Dhanai, Narcis, Rawlins, Sinanan, and Joseph.