Criminals posing as soldiers

The probe comes after the lawmen seized a cache of arms, ammunition, a ‘channa bomb’ (a crude explosive device using channa soaked in gasoline) and army kits comprising fragmented jackets, boots, ski-masks, tie straps, blindfolds, duct tape and bulletproof vests at Marcano Quarry, Beverly Hills in Laventille on Monday.

According to police reports, about 5.30 pm, a team of officers from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), acting on a tip-off, went to Marcano Quarry near some apartments earmarked for demolition. They searched nearby bushes and found the army kits and arms. A half kilo of compressed marijuana was also seized. Police sources said while they are pleased the items were seized, they are concerned about the amount of army kits being found in the wrong hands. Only last month, IATF officers seized five army jackets at the home of a well-known gang leader in Laventille. It is believed these kits are being sold by renegade soldiers.

Almost all the kits recovered by the police were assigned regimental numbers. The fragmented jackets seized on Monday are used by soldiers to enter an area where a bomb is reported to be planted. The jacket offers protection to soldiers and is similar to a bulletproof vest. IATF officers said they will assist army officers to probe the sale of these kits and if charges are to be laid, the police will move in and do so.

A senior police source said it was not only a frightening scenario, but dangerous one as well, to consider that these army kits are being sold to criminals.

The officer pointed out that innocent people may fall victim to criminals who could use these kits to pose as legitimate Regiment officers.

“We intend to get to the bottom of this and put a stop to it in a bid to deal with the crime wave in the country,” said the source. The exercise was coordinated by Snr Supt Lennox Gonzales and led by Insp Anslem Garrick.