Police make million-dollar drug bust

Noting the police’s successes in the six weeks since the SoE was declared, recently appointed DCP Operations Curt Simon says he believes the changes at the top of the service will not affect its effectiveness.

DCP Operations Junior Benjamin was appointed acting Commissioner of Police (CoP), and Simon was appointed to act in Benjamin's place after CoP Erla Harewood-Christopher was suspended amid a police investigation into the importation of two sniper rifles for the Strategic Services Agency.

“We are a very much stable institution,” said Simon at a police media briefing on February 10.

“Personalities don't necessarily decide what happens within the TTPS (TT Police Service) because we have our structured processes that we lean on and are quite trusted.

“So we can come to you at any time regardless of what changes may appear in personnel and still be that confident group that is providing professional policing services to this country.”

He said the police have done 2,328 operations, targeted 1,978 priority offenders, done 15,528 searches, 2,038 traffic operations, seized 82 guns, and arrested 1,741 people in the 42 days since the SoE began.

“I think it really reflects the hard work of being put in in this SOE and it also reflects some of the advantages that we may experience as a result of the regulations that allow the police to function in this time.”

Criminal Division head ACP Richard Smith said police were also able to execute a $1 million drug bust in Heights of Guanapo, Arima on February 7.

He said the operation was a joint effort involving various law-enforcement agencies under the Ministry of National Security, including the Special Operations Unit, officers from police's Canine Branch and the National Security Special Operations Group.

“While searching the forested area in the region, officers discovered and seized four large packages of cannabis with a total weight of 103.1 kg with an estimated street value of $1,814,560.”

Police also found a loaded 9 mm Beretta pistol and 20 rounds of ammunition hidden in a makeshift plastic tent.

He said a 20-year-old undocumented Venezuelan national was arrested in connection with the find.

The operation was led by Smith and Snr Supt Roger Alexander, and supervised by Insp Sinclair and Sgt Baptiste.

He said two Valsayn men were also arrested and charged for extortion.

Michael “Rat” Maharaj, 53, and Dinesh Maharaj, 42, were both arrested and charged for four counts of demanding money by menace and one count of robbery.

He said the duo appeared before a magistrate on February 10 and their bail conditions would be revealed at a later date.