Less women arrested for gun possession in 2017

The statistics were revealed by Acting Assistant Superintendent of assigned to the Organised Crime Narcotics and Firearms Bureau, Vernly Gift at yesterday’s weekly press briefing at the Police Administration Building in Port of Spain.

“For the period January to August 31, 2016, 552 men were arrested for being in possession of firearms. For the same period in 2017, 636 were arrested representing a 15 per cent increase.

Out of the nine divisions, the majority of seizures of drugs and firearms were made in the Northern, Western and Southern divisions.” Gift said there has been a 36 per cent increase in firearms seizure for the period January to August 31 - a total of 702 firearms seized compared to 2016 when 514 were seized.

He said between January and August last year, police seized 198.8 kilogrammes of cocaine.

For the same period this year, 42 kilogrammes were seized - a decrease of 83 per cent with a street value of $118, 227,648 in 2016, and $19,510,233.60 this year.

“From January to August last year, police seized 1,279.01 kilogrammes of marijuana compared to 830.55 kilogrammes this year - a decrease of 35 per cent with a street value of $17,266, 635 in 2016 and $11,212,425 in 2017.”