Four airport security guards held in sting operation

FOUR security guards attached to Piraco Air Services were held yesterday  in a “sting operation” trying to extort $8,000 from a passenger. Two of the men were held after they received an $8,000 payoff in fake money  by the victim. Two others were arrested soon after in Arima while they waited on their associates. According to reports, the security officers boarded a Trans Meridian Airways aircraft bound for JFK Airport, New York around 3 pm on Tuesday, and ordered one of its passengers out, telling him he could not travel because  his travel documents were not in order. The men then took the San Fernando labourer to a secluded, secured room in the airport, relieved him of $30,000 worth of jewelry he had on his person and hand luggage for his girlfriend in New York.

They advised him that to be able to travel again he would have to come up with $8,000. Arrangements were made for him to be contacted next morning on a meeting place. Next morning before going to the meeting point he made a report to the St Joseph Police Station and a “sting operation” was set up with fake bills. The San Fernando man was contacted and told to meet his two contacts in a bar on Piarco Old Road, a short distance from the Piarco International Airport entrance. There, in front of the bar around 10 am, observed by the officers, the labourer handed over the marked, fake bills.

Police moved in and grabbed the men, ages 34 and 41 from Maracas, St Joseph and Arima respectively, and on searching found the bag with the marked bills and jewelry in their car. One of the men was searched and the labourer’s travel documents were also found. Police later went to Arima where they arrested two other men aged 38 and 36. The men, who are expected to appear in an identification parade today are to be charged with extortion, larceny, and possibly kidnapping. Efforts to get a comment from head of security Jason Francis or other officials of Piarco Air Services were futile. The sting, coordinated by ASP Farrell, included Insps Modeste, Ramsoondar, Sgt Daniel, PCs Ramjattan Peters, and Penjulia. Constable Ramjattan is investigating.