(Trinidad Guardian) Police have seized quantities of cannabis, firearms, ammunition and cash during a drug trafficking operation in Claxton Bay.
According to the T&T Police Service (TTPS), the operation was aimed at dismantling “a sophisticated and highly organised drug network” being run by a male suspect from the area.
In a release, it said the exercise was carried out between Tuesday and Thursday by officers of a specialist unit of the TTPS, who were assisted by personnel from the T&T Coast Guard (TTCG) and Defence Force (TTDF). It was coordinated by DCP Intelligence and Investigations Suzette Martin.
The inter-agency efforts resulted in the seizure of a quantity of high-grade Colombian marijuana, an assault rifle, four magazines, one pistol loaded with a magazine and fitted with a selector and 404 rounds of 5.56 ammunition, which were hidden in a dense mangrove forest area behind the suspect’s residence. A quantity of cash totalling $60,000 was also found hidden in the ceiling of the residence.
Five vessels allegedly belonging to the suspect were conveyed to Staubles Bay pending inquiries. The complex and challenging environment of the mangrove, characterised by its thick vegetation and difficult accessibility, made the operation particularly arduous. However, it said the expertise of the riverine units of the TTCG and TTPS enabled the teams to effectively navigate the inlets and conduct thorough searches.
The seized money was handed over to the Financial Investigations Bureau (FIB) for further forfeiture inquiries.
“This operation was launched based on vital intelligence that indicated the suspect, a known drug trafficker from the Claxton Bay district, had recently imported a significant quantity of narcotics from South America,” a TTPS statement said yesterday.
The operation uncovered that the suspect had constructed a manmade inlet connecting his property to the Gulf of Paria.
“This inlet, coupled with the presence of several vessels and engines observed in the vicinity, provided clear evidence of his involvement in a well-established drug trafficking operation,” the TTPS said.
Commenting on the operation and the seizures, acting Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin said, “The use of manmade inlets and concealed vessels points to a highly organised network, which the TTPS and its partners are determined to dismantle. Given the ongoing nature of this investigation, all assets and resources are being committed to locating the narcotics, apprehending those involved, and bringing the perpetrators to justice.”
He also commended the hard work and synergies displayed by all the agencies involved in the operation.
