Police, soldiers and other security agencies locked down the Sea Lots, Port-of-Spain, community for several hours yesterday and arrested five people.
During the operation, which began at 4.30 am and ended at 11 am, several houses were searched.
Police said two people were held for being in possession of army camouflage outfits.
Six of the camouflages outfits were in different colours but one was similar to the uniform used by members of the Regiment, police said. One woman, who was stopped and searched while walking in the community, was held for drug possession after a small quantity of marijuana was found.
Police recovered approximately 50 kilogrammes of marijuana in cling wrap in a house but no one was held in connection with that discovery.
At another house, police held a woman with $32,000 after she could not give a proper account for the cash. She will be questioned by officers of the Financial Investigations Branch (FIB).
One man was held for operating an illegal casino.
Police said bottles of wine, beers and other boxes of alcohol were seized.
The raid was conducted under the supervision of Snr Supt Wayne Boyd of the Inter-Agency Task Force and co-ordinated by ACP Carlton Alleyne.
Police said it was an "intelligence-led strike" after weeks of surveillance.
Officers from the Coast Guard, Police, Customs and Excise and the First Battalion from Camp Ogden took part in the raid.
ASP Neil Brandon John and Chris Bailey of the Inter-Agency Task Force, CID, Canine Unit, and other operational units also took part in the raid.
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Spokesperson for the Sea Lots community Kenroy Dopwell said: "It is a set of madness and a whole set of things.
"They are concentrating on Production Drive. I get up and hear people bawling and the sounds of doors being broken down," he said.
Residents complained police broke down their doors without search warrants and damaged furniture during their search. They demanded compensation for their losses.
Meanwhile, members of the media who attempted to speak with the residents said they were blocked from entering the community. Members of the Defence Force and the Police Service claimed that they were not abusive and no shots were fired during the operation.
Boyd said the police were "acting on certain intelligence and therefore organised and executed the combined exercise in an effort to curb criminal activities thus ensuring a safer community for the residents of Sea Lots."