$15,000 bail for girl held in guns, drugs raid

A 12-year-old girl charged with five counts of narcotic and ammunition possession was yesterday granted bail in the sum of $15,000 by a San Fernando High Court judge. The bail application was made on behalf of the girl by defence attorneys Leon Gokool and Wayne Sturge, before Justice Mark Mohammed in Chambers. The Nelson Street, Port-of-Spain girl had on Thursday been denied bail by Princes Town Magistrate Siumungal Ramsaran, and had been remanded at the St Jude’s Home.

She is jointly charged with Martin Noriega Bain, 34, of Aripero Village in Rousillac, Erica Rondon, 30, of Costa Agual, Venezuela, Beatrice Rondon, 55, and Adriana Rondon, 18, both of Caracas, Venezuela, with possession of marijuana and cocaine for trafficking, possession of a hand grenade and possession of nine firearms. The five were arrested Wednesday evening after officers of the Firearm Interdiction Unit (FIU) swooped down on a house at Aripero Village in Rousillac, and found an arsenal of weapons, a large quantity of narcotics, a bulletproof vest and cash. In granting the bail, Mohammed named the girl’s mother, Tammy McLeod, as surety. The $15,000 will cover all charges. The five accused will appear before a Siparia magistrate on Monday.