Senior Superintendent of the South Western Division Patsy Joseph has called on newly-appointed National Security Minister Major General Edmund Dillon to ensure that the porous borders are secured.
“I hope that some more attention will be placed on securing our borders especially in the Cedros and Erin areas,” Joseph said yesterday at a police news conference at the San Fernando Police Station.
Joining Joseph was ACP South Cecil Santana to present to the media a cache of seven guns, including a Z-45 sub-machine and 23 rounds of ammunition, seized from a car they intercepted at Beach Road, Santa Flora, on Tuesday. Two people also were arrested and are scheduled to appear before a Siparia magistrate today.
Joseph said she had no doubt that the arms and ammunition were brought into the country via the open sea ports along the southwest peninsula. She said following information received, officers from the South Western Division Task Force, CID and Operations and Intel Unit conducted intensive surveillance and later intercepted a vehicle in which the three shotguns, one UZI, two pistols, the Z-45 and 23 rounds of ammunition were discovered in a crocus bag in the car.
Joseph said the guns have been sent for forensic testing to determine whether they have been previously fired. She said the seven guns brings to 50, the number seized in the division for the year. The driver, a 28-year old farmer, and a 43-year-old labourer of Palo Seco were arrested. Joseph commended the officers involved in the seizure.