$171m 'creepy marijuana' seized in Caroni Swamp: Tobago radar drug bust

THE Police Service has credited the US military radar at the ANR Robinson Airport in Tobago with its seizure of $171 million worth of marijuana in the Caroni swamp.

The police issued a statement on December 11 outlining the bust plus an accompanying video including Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro and Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander.The statement was titled, New radar system delivers major narcotics seizure in Caroni Swamp.

"The TT Police Service (TTPS) has achieved a significant breakthrough in its border security operations with the newly installed radar system delivering its first major success: a large narcotics seizure in the Caroni Swamp.

"The radar system, recently commissioned to strengthen the national security apparatus, was instrumental in this discovery."

The police said the nature of the technology and operational aspects of the exercise could not be shared with the public.

"But the intelligence triggered a coordinated response led by the Commissioner of Police, Allister Guevarro, as well as Deputy Commissioners of Police Natasha George and Suzette Martin."

Specialised units of the TTPS including the Multi-Option Police Section (MOPS) of the Special Branch, the Coastal and Air Support Unit (CASU), the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), and other intelligence arms were mobilised, the statement related.

"Guided by the intelligence, officers journeyed overnight into the mangrove of the Caroni Swamp where they recovered the stashed illegal cargo."

The vessel was then moved to Heliport at Chaguaramas on December 11 for processing by SIU and CSI.

"The seized narcotics, upon examination and weighing, amounted to 1,560 kilogrammes of ‘creepy marijuana,’ with an estimated street value of $171,205,320.

"No arrests were made during the operation."

Investigations are continuing as the police service intensifies its intelligence-led approach to dismantling narcotics networks and safeguarding the borders of TT.

"The Commissioner of Police commended the effectiveness of the radar system and the co-ordinated efforts of all units involved, underscoring that the TTPS remains resolute in protecting the nation from the scourge of illegal drugs."

"Creepy marijuana" is understood to be a very high potency strain of cannabis whose 15-25 per cent THC content creates greater health risks of addiction and psychiatric conditions.

Newsday sent text messages to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Alexander and Defence Minister Wayne Sturge but up to press time had not received any replies.

The video sent to media houses by the police was 4.44 minutes and featured Guevarro and Alexander, plus Insp Ronny Rampallard of the Coastal and Air Support Unit.

To cinematographic music, it showed an aerial shot of two police pirogues escorting a pirogue laden with packages, which were then examined by Guevarro and Alexander and unloaded by officers and packed into a van.

Guevarro said, "We are here this morning at Chaguaramas at the culmination of a very successful exercise. It has been an all-night operation."

He listed the TTPS units participating, along with other investigative and tactical units.

Guevarro referenced the bales as the culmination of a successful exercise.

"What I am pleased to announce is the first successful operation utilising the newly-installed radar system."

He could give no operational details but said the haul was found at the Caroni River and showed the success of the operation.

"Minister Alexander was pleased when he heard about the success of the radar operation," Guevarro said.

Alexander, clad in all-black and shades, commended Guevarro and his team whom he said had largely gone the extra mile in this operation.

"We also want to thank our foreign counterparts who saw it fit with the application coming from the Prime Minister to provide us with some technology that we are able to implement now for success." Thanking the CoP and the police officers involved, he said, "Continue pushing forward. Our safety and security depends on you."

Rampallard, brandishing an automatic rifle, gave an on-the-ground account.

"It was indeed a tremendous exercise, intelligence-led policing, nothing short of the contribution of every single member of every single section and unit and organisation that the commissioner mentioned previously.

"These efforts sometimes go unnoticed but I could tell you from being on the ground it was extremely harsh terrain, hostile territory."

He applauded the yeoman service rendered by the men and women who had taken part in the exercise.

"Crime-fighting is not just the police alone. It is everybody, both locally and internationally. We want to thank everybody.

"It was a real gruelling day and night, coming in to the end of this. We had a lot of challenges but we were able to rise beyond the challenges."

Guevarro issued a stern warning to criminals.

"Know that we are coming for you. Know that the TTPS will be relentless in its search for you, and to kindly desist from flooding our streets with 'that', because you would not like the outcome.

"And as I always say, the vengeance of Moko will fall on you."

No official has overtly said how information from the radar had reached to the TTPS, although some hints were made at international co-operation.

The radar was installed amid rising military tensions between Venezuela and the US and TT, with the PNM and IDA decrying the installation as potentially putting Tobago at risk in case of rising hostilities.

However Persad-Bissessar took responsibility.

“Months ago I made the request to the local US Embassy for a US-supplied radar as a temporary solution for our poor surveillance capabilities.

“Tobago’s air and sea territory are the most secure they have ever been and the people of Tobago are the safest they have ever been.

“I am ultimately responsible for their safety and security and will ensure they never have a bloody year like 2024."

US officer Natasha Chevalier Losada on the Guantanamo Bay radio station AFN had said the radar could be used in any USA-Venezuela conflict "to detect, track and target the world’s most sophisticated airborne threats in highly contested environments.”

Manufacturer Northrup Grumman’s website said radar consolidates air surveillance, air defence and counter-fire target acquisition into one package, with the speed needed for today’s battle-space.

“The AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR utilises S-band radar operations to provide long range, four-dimensional, 360-degree total surveillance for air and missile defense, fire control, and air traffic control. "With the ability to establish fire control quality tracks on a single scan, the radar delivers the data necessary for air defense weapons to destroy airborne threats including cruise missiles, hypersonic missiles, ballistic missiles, manned aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).”