Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Joanne Archie said 16 people were arrested in Arima and environs during an anti-crime exercise between Tuesday and yesterday. Archie, who was speaking at the weekly police briefing at the Police Administration Building in Port-of-Spain, said a quantity of ammunition was recovered and praised the officers for their keen work and observation.
She said the exercise was co-ordinated by Snr Supt David Abraham and supervised by acting Insp Baptiste, Sgts Fernandez, Charles and Jerry in Arima, Pinto and Maturita areas. A Browning pistol, nine rounds of nine-millimetre ammunition and 590 grams of marijuana were seized.
Nine people between the ages of 17 to 62 were arrested at Maturita Extension, Maturita. Police then intercepted a vehicle along the Eastern Main Road in Wallerfield and discovered a 38 revolver, five rounds of .38 ammunition and arrested six men.
Referring also to the arrest of a 36-year-old Chaguanas man on Tuesday outside PriceSmart in Chaguanas, she said: "We commend the officers for the keen power of observation and their detection of the offence before it was even reported." Archie said the suspect was arrested after officers of the Cunupia Police Station received reports of suspicious activities in the Endeavour Road, Chaguanas, community.
She said the officers were on surveillance around mid-night when they observed a man coming out of the bushes. "He was challenged and ran but held a short distance away. "The man later took police to where two television sets and a bolt cutter were recovered," she said.
Archie said enquires revealed an assistant manager secured a container and later discovered it was broken into. Four 42-inch LED flat screen television sets valued at $20,000 were also recovered.