POLICE ARREST 3 BIG GUN HAUL IN PIPARO

According to police reports, on Friday last, police officers, led by Sgt Ramlogan and other officers of the Princes Town Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Criminal Gang Intelligence Unit, raided two homes at Piparo Main Road, Lower Piparo.

They found a total of 6,800 rounds of .22 and .25 ammunition hidden in boxes and biscuit tins and also seized five firearms.

It is believed that the shipment of ammunition and firearms recently arrived in the country hidden in a crate which Newsday learnt had a false bottom.

A relative of the suspects said to be living in the United States is also assisting police with investigations and was expected to arrive in the country last night.

During the five hour exercise in Piparo that ended around 5.30 pm on Friday, the officers executed a search warrant at the pensioner’s home where they found a large quantity of ammunition along with two rifles, a 16 gauge shotgun and a nail gun for which the owner must have a firearm user’s licence.

A warrant was also executed at the relative’s house and one .22 rifle and more ammunition were found. The ammunition at both locations amounted to 6,800 rounds.

One senior officer who spoke to Newsday said the haul represents one of the largest ever.

He explained: “One of the firearms is a pellet gun but our laws in Trinidad states that a pellet gun must be .177 calibre and this gun is a .22. Also, a pellet gun in Trinidad must be a smooth bore but this one is a spiral bore which makes it deadly. There it had a .22 rifle. There was also a dismantled 16 gauge shot gun. Inside the house he had a nail gun that works with ammunition. You must have a firearm users licence to operate that and they had none.

If persons are saying these guns are used for hunting then, if it could take down an animal, it could take down a person.” Snr Supt Dookie, ASP Gheeshawan of the Fraud Squad and other officers also assisted in the police operation.

Once charged, the suspects will appear in later this week before a magistrate in the Princes Town Court.