Rambharat: Congrats to Customs on port weapons find

SEIZED: A Customs and Excise officer uses gloves to handle illegal firearms found hidden in a barrel intercepted yesterday at the Port in Port of Spain.
SEIZED: A Customs and Excise officer uses gloves to handle illegal firearms found hidden in a barrel intercepted yesterday at the Port in Port of Spain.

AGRICULTURE Minister Clarence Rambharat has congratulated Customs and Excise officers who seized guns at the Port of Spain port on Monday afternoon.

Central police station and Port of Spain CID officers previously informed Newsday the discovery was made at Shed 10 sometime on Monday afternoon by customs officers checking incoming cargo. The guns, several automatic rifles, were in a shipping barrel with tins of food.

Members of the Organised Crime Narcotics and Firearms Bureau were called in along with the Port of Spain CID. Newsday was told the person suspected of bringing in the guns was still at large and police are continuing inquiries.

Rambharat responded to a question about the find in the Senate yesterday on behalf of the National Security Minister. He congratulated Customs and Excise officers, who fall under the Finance Ministry, on their vigilance on behalf of all citizens of the country.

“It is a sign that the work that has to be done is being done. And we are very thankful for this find. Nevertheless, the Ministry of National Security has been encouraging all arms of law enforcement to work closer together on information sharing and operation.”

He said the National Security Minister has held meetings on improving border security.

“There is always additional work to be done at the legal ports of entry because of course persons involved in illegal activities are always trying to find ways in which they can penetrate the system.”

He said the National Security Ministry will continue to work with the Finance Ministry, along with Customs and Excise, to improve what currently exists at all legal ports of entry and and any other points the ministry has determined people involved in illegal activity “may wish to compromise.”

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