Story by RHONDOR DOWLAT-ROSTANT
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is reminding members of the public, once again, to adhere to the road traffic laws and regulations, including speed limits.
This latest reminder comes after ten people were issued fixed penalty tickets on Tuesday.
Nine of them were ticketed for speeding along the Uriah Butler Highway, while the tenth person was ticketed for failing to wear a seatbelt.
The police exercise took place on Tuesday 2 June 2020, between 3 pm and 5 pm, in the vicinity of the John Peter Walkover. It was supervised by Snr Supt Ramkhellawan, with support given by Insp Maraj, Sgt Ramroop, Sgt Sooknanan, Cpl Dwarika, Cpl Baptist, Cpl Scantaberry, and Cpl Thomas, among others.
During a similar exercise on Saturday, a man from Carenage managed to evade the police; however, he later surrendered himself to officers.
Police said the 48-year-old man from L’Anse Mitan Road, Carenage, surrendered himself to police on Monday 1 June 2020, after he was publicly identified as the man wanted in connection with the find of 4.68 kilogrammes of marijuana. The suspect, identified as Edmund Cudjoe, was later charged and taken before a magistrate where he pleaded guilty and was fined $15,000.
Also on Monday, Christy Belfon of Kingdom Avenue, Maturita Village, Arima, was charged for evading the police during an exercise, and appeared before Magistrate Brambhanan Dubay in the Sangre Grande Magistrates' Court.
The 23-year-old man was fined $15,000 or face a default term of 18 months imprisonment. PC Johnny Lee Traveago laid the charge in this matter.
According to reports, at 10 am that day, police officers were conducting routine patrols along Biche Road when they had cause to intercept a blue Nissan Wing Road with two occupants—Edmund Cudjoe and Christy Belfon.
Upon bringing the car to a stop, the driver of the car immediately exited and fled into nearby bushes.
A chase ensued but the suspect escaped. He was later identified as Cudjoe.
Belfon, a passenger in the car, was detained.
Police searched the car and discovered a black bag containing marijuana on the floor of the front passenger seat.
The 23-year-old was detained as a result.
The drug find was weighed and revealed to be 4.68 kilogrammes. As a result, Belfon was charged for trafficking a dangerous drug.
The operation was supervised by Insp Joseph, Sgt Katwaroo, and Cpl Hosein.