Action plan coming to halt quarrying

He said as an essential component of the plan, the law enforcement agencies propose to undertake a range of activities, including: intensification of joint mobile army/police patrols in the affected areas, specifically Wallerfield, Valencia, Toco Road, Aripo Savannah, Sawmill Road, Oropouche Road, Tapana Road; covert monitoring and surveillance, and the establishment of a hotline for the receipt of information on illegal operations. Joseph was responding to a question filed by UNC Senator Wade Mark in the Senate yesterday.

Joseph claimed all the law enforcement and national security agencies had advised that they were not aware that there were armed Jamaat al Muslimeen forces in Valencia. He said the agencies were aware of the issue of illegal quarrying and were pursuing measures aimed at reducing the problem at all of the nation’s quarries.

The minister said the law enforcement and NS agencies conducted a joint operation in the Valencia and Wallerfield areas on November 24, targeting illegally operating quarries.

This exercise resulted in the arrest of 13 men, none of whom has been identified as members of the Jamaat. He said 16 pieces of equipment seized were in police possession

Joseph said during the joint operations at the quarries, no illegal firearms were found. He said the law enforcement agencies had since maintained heavy surveillance of the activities taking place in and around the quarrying area.