Central police crack car-jacking ring

CENTRAL Police believe they have cracked a major car-jacking ring with the arrest of three men yesterday. The men between the ages of 19 and 22 from the Longdenville area are suspected in the car-jacking of police inspector Kenneth Samlal whose car was stolen in the Caroni area on December 27 last year. Another car also stolen in the Caroni area on Thursday night was also recovered. The three men were part of 42 others arrested for various offences in pre-dawn raids, which started between 3 am and ended at midday yesterday by members of the Central Division Task Force, Chaguanas CID and other officers. The exercises were carried out in  Longdenville, Caroni, Cunupia, Freeport, Couva and Enterprise Chaguanas.

The exercises were coordinated by ACP Allard and Snr Supt Mayers. Ground operations were spearheaded by Inspector Kirk and included Sgts Corbette, McKenzie, Ramlogan and PC Guelmo. In an unrelated matter 22 persons were arrested in similar exercises carried out in Barataria and San Juan on Thursday. The persons ranging between 16 and 25 years of age were arrested for possession of marijuana, outstanding warrants and assembling to gamble. The exercises, which started at 2 pm and ended at 10 pm, were coordinated by Inspector Coa. All sixty-four persons will appear before Chaguanas and Port-of-Spain magistrates on Monday. These initiatives according to senior police sources are part of the Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul initiative against crime for the 2005 Carnival season.