Two SWAT ranks arrested over ganja

Kevin Thompson
Kevin Thompson

Two police SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) ranks are under close arrest after cannabis was found in a vehicle they were in on Tuesday night at Camp and New Market streets.

In a statement yesterday, the police said that at about 11:15 pm, acting on information received, an Inspector from the Special Branch along with other ranks, stopped an Axio motor car bearing registration number PAJ 2421 which was being driven by Police Lance Corporal 20355 Kevin Thompson. Lance Corporal 23874 Dwayne Perry was seated in the front passenger seat of the vehicle.

The statement said that a search was conducted in the car, in the presence of the two SWAT ranks, and in the back seat, a black travelling bag containing a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis was found, along with plastic wraps, a black scale and a black bag sealer.

The two SWAT ranks were told of the offence committed and cautioned and they both remained silent. They were arrested and escorted to the Narcotics Branch. The suspected narcotic was weighed and it amounted to 748.4 grams.

The statement said that a thorough search was carried out on the vehicle but nothing else of evidential value was found. The documents for the motor car were examined and it was observed that it is owned by Diana Persaud of North Road, Lacytown.

Stacy Hodge, a 40-year-old businesswoman from Providence, EBD, who is the reputed wife of Thompson, was contacted and interviewed, and she stated that she was involv-ed in an accident about a week ago with her motor vehicle (a red Lexus, number PAJ 4770) and her insurance company rented the said car from Elite Auto rentals located at Garnette Street, Kitty, for her to use while her vehicle was being repaired.

Hodge said that she last drove the vehicle on Thursday 10th January 2025, and she gave the keys to Thompson after he asked her for a vehicle to use.

The vehicle has been lodged at the Alberttown Police Station. Searches were carried out at the homes of Kevin Thompson and Dwayne Perry but nothing of evidential value was found. They were both placed under close arrest. Investigations are ongoing, the police said.