Venezuelan man held with copper at La Brea beach

A joint exercise by police and Custom and Excise Division officers led to the arrest of a 35- year-old Venezuelan watchman at a beach in La Brea with an estimated 15 tonnes of copper on Thursday.

Police believe the suspect, who lives in Caracas, had illegally entered TT hours earlier with the copper. He was waiting at Carat Shed beach in La Brea for someone with a truck to take it to an undisclosed location.

A police report said acting on information received, Snr Supt Brandon-John of the South Western Division co-ordinated the exercise, which Insp Mathura supervised. Cpl Carter and other officers of La Brea CID, and custom and excise officer Roopnarine went to the beach.

Police said the copper is worth thousands of dollars.

Up to Friday, the man remained in custody.