2 cops freed of gun, drug charges

Two police officers on three counts of possession of unlicensed firearms and possession of marijuana for trafficking have been cleared of the charges, after almost a decade.

PCs Toola Jack and Steven Johnson appeared before Master Margaret Sookraj Goswami on August 14, when the Director of Public Prosecutions issued notices of discontinuance for the two.

Johnson, of St Barb's, Laventille had four years of service and Jack, of Gonzales, Belmont had five years of service before they were charged in 2017.

Both were assigned to the Port of Spain Division.

They were charged with possession of three unlicensed firearms and possession of 54.3 kilos of compressed marijuana for trafficking.

At the time, police alleged two officers were arrested in South Oropouche, where illegal weapons and four crocus bags filled with marijuana were allegedly found inside a marked police SUV. The two were charged by Sgt Durga of the OCNB.

At their second court appearance in the Siparia magistrates’ courts, the police alleged the marijuana had an estimated street value of $733,000.

They were represented by Ian Brooks and Rosario Sookdeo.