(Trinidad Guardian) Officials at the Ministry of National Security are alleged to have discovered a plot to destabilise the country. The plot involves the importation of a shipment of arms and ammunition worth well over TT$10 million, which was to be used to create havoc in Port-of-Spain ahead of last Friday’s jailbreak at the Frederick Street prison by inmates Allan “Scanny” Martin, Hassan Atwell and Christopher Selby.
The latest intelligence information revealed that the grenade found outside the Port-of-Spain Prison, which was said to have been used by Martin during the escape, was just one from a shipment of grenades and other high-tech arms and ammunition, including three rocket launchers, AK47s, M24 sniper rifles and Desert Eagles.
The T&T Guardian was informed by an intelligence source that the shipment entered the country several weeks ago in the name of two businessmen from central and south Trinidad. It is alleged the businessmen are linked to a top criminal organisation in T&T. Sources said they linked Friday’s prison break to the shipment because the grenade which Martin had was from that shipment and had allegedly been smuggled into the Port-of-Spain prison.
It is believed that after the trio shot their way to freedom in a well executed escape plan, Martin was supposed to throw the grenade over the prison walls, near the prison officers’ dormitory.
The impact of the explosion was expected to cause severe damage to the dormitory, where prison officers who had worked the night shift would have been resting before making their way home.
The source said there were other people strategically placed outside several key government buildings within the capital, including the Ministry of National Security and the Hall of Justice, allegedly armed with other explosive devices. These individuals were instructed to set off these devices once Martin’s grenade had been activated at the prison.
The sole purpose of these acts were to create massive panic and mayhem throughout the city among commuters, pedestrians, working community and national security personnel. “This information that we are gathering cannot be taken for granted. This is more serious than ever and should be taken seriously. It is in no way to cause panic among the citizens in T&T but it is the reality of the situation,” the source said.
The source added that it was alleged that there was an army of people, both women and men, who were linked to a criminal organisation and who were already given Middle East military-type training in using the high-tech weapons which were on T&T shores. “These people are just waiting for the green light to go ahead with this plan,” the source said.
It is alleged that prisoners Martin, Atwell and Selby, who allegedly brokered a million-dollar deal with senior prison officers to secure their freedom last Friday, were allegedly part of the bigger plot. It is also alleged that two senior prison officers, believed to have been directly involved in the prison break plot, were also privy to the bigger plot.
