Arrested cops face drug, gun charges

Two police constables, nabbed on Tuesday in the company of a man identified as a drug trafficker, are facing several firearm and drug-related offences.

Yesterday, the two constables, assigned to the Besson Street Police Station, remained in custody and were still being interviewed by officers of the Organised Crime Narcotics And Firearms Bureau (OCNFB). Sources revealed that the constables’ homes in Laventille were searched on Tuesday night and again on Wednesday but nothing illegal was found. It is alleged that the two officers left the Port-of-Spain CID on Tuesday claiming that they were going on enquiries. The officers then allegedly picked up a 24-year-old El Socorro man in a marked Police-issued Xtrail and took him to the South Western Peninsula. While in the district, the El Socorro man allegedly collected four crocus bags containing high-grade marijuana that allegedly came from Venezuela, three hand guns with ammunition and a quantity of alcohol.

The items were placed in the vehicle and were supposed to be transported to El Socorro for packaging and sale. However, officers of the South Western Division Task Force, led by Sgt Shaheed Ali and acting on a tip-off, attempted to stop the vehicle in Cedros shortly after 5 pm on Tuesday.

A roadblock was then put in place in Rousillac and the vehicle was stopped.

The police vehicle was searched, the drugs guns and alcohol were found and the two constables, along with the 24-year-old man, were taken into custody.Senior police officers, led by ACP Crime Irwin Hackshaw, condemned the alleged actions of the officers and said they had brought the Police Service into disrepute. His comments were echoed by President of the Police Social and Welfare Association, Acting ASP Michael Seales.

Yesterday, sources at the OCNFB said they were now working on information that police vehicles were being used to transport drugs from the South Western Division to El Socorro for an extended period.

They added that, based on information received, a very senior officer was aware of the alleged illicit operation and supported the actions of some junior officers including the two constables detained on Tuesday.