The high incidence of violent crime has alarmed the country. There is widespread dissatisfaction that insufficient progress has been made to address the situation. Men, women and children have been victims and some schools are also in the line of fire.
There is mounting evidence that the extortion racket has affected businesses, whether small, medium or large. One wayside fish vendor attributed his emigration to gangs trying to extort money. Doubles vendors and bar owners have been gunned down, reputedly for the same reason. Construction workers have been shot and killed on site. Last November, the Contractors’ Association president appealed to authorities to address the crime situation. This suggests gangsters are consolidating their position. Perhaps we are even witnessing the emergence of crime syndicates.
The TTPS has had some success. Last October, prolonged surveillance led to two massive finds in under a week in the Cangrejal Road community in Santa Cruz. First, they found over 35 high-powered weapons, assorted ammunition and explosives. On the next occasion, it was tactical police uniforms, both authentic and fake, bulletproof vests, boots, sirens, blue lights, rifle parts, assorted rifles, diffusers and magazines. Last weekend, it was a $184 million marijuana and cocaine seizure in Coromandel Village, Cedros.
What is interesting is that after days or weeks of surveillance in these exercises, police arrested no one. Presumably, operational planning would have ensured all known access points were identified and covered to facilitate surgical strikes. The media reports make it clear there was surveillance and inter-agency coordination. The raiding party in the Cedros exercise consisted of the Southern Task Force; South-Western Division Task Force; Multi Options Police Section; National Operations Task Force; Guard and Emergency Branch; Riverine and Coastal Patrol Unit; Canine Unit; Air Support Unit; and the T&T Coast Guard.
This inter-agency operation should have ensured that the police had the upper hand and could pick their moment to gain the maximum benefit. Yet, despite all the surveillance and preparation, no one was apprehended who would facilitate further investigation to assist in breaking the trafficking ring. Once again, only inventory was seized. While it is good to prevent guns and drugs from reaching the street, it would be better if the persons behind the smuggling ring were arrested and made to face the court.
These successes may give the appearance the police are doing their job. But their job is not only to search and seize but also to enforce and prosecute. People imported the seized drugs, guns and other paraphernalia. If not intended to be used here, some were meant for re-export. Who are these people? Where do they operate? How will they be stopped? Was any intelligence gathered and where does the intelligence lead? Or were these seizures the result of tip-offs because someone was not paid? Whilst the public does not expect to be given the full details, citizens expect more tangible results than just seizures. Do these criminals have better information than the police? If yes, how is this possible?
Also making the front page was news that the head of the Strategic Services Agency was sent on leave and a new head installed to do an extensive audit of the agency’s personnel, equipment and processes. This is not good news. Perhaps things must get worse before they get better? How much worse would that be?