TT back on red alert after 161 arrests

NEWSDAY STAFF

THE POLICE Service has placed the country on red alert for the four-day Easter weekend. This comes as the police’s Operation Strike Back anti-crime raids yersterday netted 161 suspects in exercises across the nine policing divisions.

The last red alert status was initiated during the Carnival season. People were arrested for a range of offences including shooting with intent, possession of firearms and ammunition, drug trafficking, house breaking and larceny.

Exercises which began last Sunday and continued into Wednesday, were coordinated by Commissioner Gary Griffith with supervision by the ACP Crime and Operations, Regional ACPs and divisional commanders.

A breakdown of the arrests show 64 were held for outstanding warrants, 43 for possession of marijuana, nine for illegally residing in the country, eight for traffic offences, five for possession of firearms and ammunition, five for malicious wounding;

Four for rape and false imprisonment, four for insulting and obscene language, three for proceeds of crime, three for possession of cocaine, three for house breaking and larceny, two for shooting with intent, two for malicious damage, two for breach of protection order, one for assault by beating, one for wounding with intent, one for possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and the other for terrorism. Suspects were taken to various police stations, pending further enquiries and charges.