‘Uncle Khalid’ arrested

POLICE launched a major offensive yesterday with raids throughout the country on the sale of fire crackers which have become a public nuisance at Christmas and Carnival. During the raids, a number of persons were arrested and charged and more than 15,000 fire crackers seized. Two well-known Princes Town businessmen were arrested and appeared before a Justice of the Peace at the Princes Town Magistrates’ Court yesterday, after police from the Firearms Interdiction Unit (FIU) swooped down on two popular business places and seized thousands of illegal fireworks and other explosive devices, popular during the Christmas season. Police estimated the large haul of explosives to be worth more than $100,000. Khalid Mohammed, 50, of 271 Edward Street, Princes Town, better known as “Uncle Khalid,” proprietor of Khalid’s Supermarket and Sudesh Seecharan, also known as Paul Waddia, 43, owner of Waddie’s Auto Accessories, were each granted bail by Justice of the Peace Hugo John, late yesterday evening and are expected to appear before a Princes Town magistrate today.

Mohammed was slapped with two charges — failing to make entries in relevant registers for the receipt and delivery of explosives, and having explosives in excess of one pound for sale and not having it in a secured cannister. Waddia, of Torrib Trace, New Grant, was charged with exposing explosives for sale, not being a wholesaler or retailer. In Chaguanas, Wendell Mooklal, 25, of Debe, was arrested at the Mid-Centre Mall car park flea market and charged with selling firecrackers without a licence. He will appear before a Chaguanas magistrate this morning. Police revealed that they seized more than 6,000 firecrackers at Mid-Centre Mall car park. In an exercise initiated by acting Commissioner Everald Snaggs, senior policemen said the exercise was being carried out throughout the country in an attempt to crackdown on the sale of  illegal fire crackers and other explosive devices, which is extremely popular during the Christmas season. Raids were also carried out in St James, Arima, San Juan, Tunapuna, and Central and South Trinidad. Police revealed that the exercise will continue and will be moving on the more popular outlets which sell firecrackers.

Mohammed and Waddia were arrested by officers of the FIU who swooped down on their respective businessplaces during a special exercise coordinated by Senior Supt Raymond Craig, around 9 am. The exercise led by ASP Chandraban Maharaj, included Sgt Clyde Phillip, PCs Robindranath Maharaj, David Simon and Tracy-Ann Morgan. The officers seized over 20 boxes — containing more than 7,880 explosive devices, including rockets, scratch-bombs and various types of firecrackers. Mohammed, who contacted his attorney Faraz Mohammed and Ravi Mungalsingh, and Waddia were arrested and taken to the Princes Town Police Station, where they were interrogated and subsequently charged.