(Trinidad Newsday) Seventeen Chinese and five Guyanese nationals along with a Public Transportation Services Corporation (PTSC) security guard and a man wanted on an outstanding warrant, were arrested during an early morning exercise along the Beetham Highway yesterday.
According to reports, between 5 am and 8 am, a party of officers led by ASP Stephen Grant and Insp Sahadeo Singh carried out a roadblock exercise along both the east and west-bound lanes of the Beetham Highway, where they stopped and searched several vehicles.
In one vehicle, officers detained five Guyanese nationals who were later found to have overstayed their visit in this country, while in two other vehicles, a total of 17 Chinese nationals were also detained.
They were handed over to Immigration authorities and are expected to be sent to the Aripo Detention Centre where arrangements will be made to have them sent back to their countries.
Also in the exercise, officers detained a 30-year-old security guard from Carapichaima, whose car was searched and a quantity of boots, monitors and DVD players were seized.
The guard allegedly admitted that he stole the items from storage at the PTSC compound in Port-of-Spain. Another man was held on an outstanding warrant.
During the same exercise, 49 tickets were issued to motorists travelling along the Beetham Highway.
Up to late yesterday, the PTSC security guard was being quizzed by police officers, and arrangements were being made to have his home searched for other stolen items.
He is expected to be charged today and will appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate. The exercise formed part of the anti-crime initiative under the state of emergency.
