Pensioners in court for drugs, firearms charges

Two pensioners will appear before a Sangre Grande magistrate today on drug and firearm charges. The duo, aged 78 and 79, were arrested Friday evening during a roadblock exercise in Cumuto. According to reports, at around 6.30 pm, the elderly men were in a truck driving along Caratal Road in Cumuto when they were stopped by police officers. The lawmen found 133 grammes of marijuana and a home-made shotgun hidden behind the driver’s seat.

The men were detained and search warrants were executed at their homes in Cumuto and Malabar, Arima. At the driver’s home, police officers recovered a bag containing 120 grammes of marijuana. The driver’s 52-year-old wife and a 44-year-old Jamaican national, who was also in the house, were arrested.

All four were charged with marijuana possession, while the pensioners were also charged possession of arms and ammunition. The Jamaican national, who had entered the country illegally, was transferred to immigration officials. PCs Tyrone, Michaels and McDonald of the Eastern Division were involved in the exercise.