Police to search every vehicle, occupants

Four hundred and fifty-eight traffic offences were detected during a massive traffic exercise which started on Friday and ended yesterday. In Central Division 57 persons were held for speeding, while another 160 traffic offences were detected. That exercise was led by Ag Inspector Martin. Four other persons were held for possession of marijuana on Friday night by officers of the Highway Patrol and taken to the Besson Street Police Station, where they were charged.

Officers of the Highway Patrol told Sunday Newsday all officers involved in the exercises would now be searching vehicles and persons for narcotics, arms, ammunition and stolen items. Previously during traffic exercises, motorists were only asked to present their permits and insurance and a check carried out for defective vehicles. A decision was taken recently to carry out thorough searches on occupants of vehicles for arms, ammunition and drugs. Police officers explained that the aggressive traffic exercises were aimed at dealing with errant motorists, fighting crime and restoring a sense of order on the roadways.

The exercises are being coordinated by ACP Nazamul Hosein and led by Ag ASP Diananand Naipaul and Ag Inspector Khan. The exercises are being carried out from Chaguaramas to Sangre Grande and Mt Hope to the Tarouba Link Road. The highway patrol officers have already succeeded in clearing away booths set up by vendors along the highways and several persons have been charged with illegal vending.