(Trinidad Guardian) Months of surveillance and intelligence gathering led to the seizure of a quantity of high-powered rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, including armour-piercing rounds, and gunpowder yesterday.
The cache of weapons, which included 35 guns, 100 magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, was put on full display during an emergency media briefing at the Police Administration Building in Port-of-Spain.
The exhibits had to be displayed on three large tables and two smaller one to sufficiently display all of the items seized.
Officers were still counting the rounds of ammunition, which included 5.56 and 7.62 calibre ammunition.
Speaking after the weapons and ammunition were gathered and displayed, Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher commended the officers for their efforts in tracking and finding the weapons.
Describing the discovery of the weapons as “historic”, she said the recent seizure was testament to the ability of the police to fight crime.
Referring to the calibre of ammunition seized, she said the danger posed by criminals was real and hoped the exercise had renewed a sense of hope and confidence in the police.
“I want to highlight to the national community the type of weapons and the type of ammunition that was found.
“We have AR15s, we have M16s, mini Uzis, 50-calibre rifles and 12-gauge shotguns.”
Harewood-Christopher also issued a stern warning to criminals that lawlessness would not be tolerated.
“I want to take this opportunity to advise the criminal elements in this country that the police will not be daunted and will not be intimidated by threats. The attack on our public officials will not be tolerated and we will always fight back.”
Snr Supt Roger Alexander, of the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF), who supervised the exercise, said it began around 2 pm and involved officers making a trek through two and a half miles of bush in Cangrejal Village to get to a shed where the weapons and ammunition were found.
He said despite the threats faced along the way, the discovery of the weapons was proof of the police’s commitment to protecting citizens.