Chaguanas police raided two bars yesterday seizing illegal weapons and narcotics. The exercise followed weeks of complaints by residents living close to the police station. According to reports, around 2.30 am yesterday officers of the Chaguanas CID, led by Supt Othaniel Williams and Inspector Wayne Lawrence, searched the two recreation clubs during which a loaded Taurus revolver with three rounds of .38 ammunition were found hidden between beer cases in one bar.
They also searched the female washroom of the second bar and found a Smith and Wesson revolver with five rounds of ammunition. That gun was found in a toilet tank. Both weapons will be taken to the Forensic Science Centre in St James where ballistic analysis would be used to determine if the firearms were used in recent shootings.
Several plastic packages containing marijuana were also found at one of the bars during the raid. Four patrons, who were also found in possession of narcotics, were also arrested. Also, in response to residents who complained about illegal parking by customers at the business places, several vehicles were wrecked while more than 60 fixed penalty traffic tickets were issued.
Two men were also arrested after officers with the assistance of sniffer dogs found a large quantity of marijuana hidden in the steering wheel of a dump truck. Those arrested are expected to appear before a Chaguanas magistrate later today.
Also involved in the exercise were woman police sergeant John, Cpl Ramsaran and officers of the Central Divisional Task Force.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated exercise yesterday at Eastern Quarry, Laventille, police issued more than 50 traffic tickets. During the exercise, officers of the Port-of-Spain Division under the supervision of ASP Ajith Persad, ordered scores of drivers to strip their illegal tints. Five motorists were arrested for possession of marijuana while five were held for outstanding warrants. The exercise was coordinated by Senior Supt Wayne Boyd.
