The search for the remains of kidnap victim Naail Ali resumed yesterday with Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) officers and Homicide investigators combing a forested area off Trantril Road, Caroni. Once again the officers faced challenges in their search of the area where they believe Ali, of Gasparillo, is buried. The area was inaccessible due to heavy overnight rains which left two rivers the officers had to cross to get to the site swollen and impassable. They had to seek an alternative route to get to the spot where a Caroni man they detained over the weekend claimed Ali is buried. The suspect allegedly confessed that he, along with others, kidnapped Ali in 2008 and fatally shot him. They then buried him in the area.
On Thursday, officers were forced to abandon their search after 12 members of the search party, including WPCs Gomez and Ramai and Justice of the Peace Ackbar Khan, were attacked by bees. The officers, led by Sgt Anderson Pariman, who was also treated for stings, took the suspect to Trantril Road where they crossed two rivers and stopped in a forested area to search for the grave. During the search the officers disturbed a hive of bees. The insects attacked members of the party who were forced to run for safety. Ali, who was 26 at the time, was abducted from outside his family's business place, A&S Hardware and Furniture Store, Gasparillo, on June 10, 2008.
A $3 million ransom was reportedly demanded for his release, part of which was paid. However, he was never returned to his family. In 2008, Canadian deportee, Jimmy Cherry, 40, of Cipero Road, San Fernando, was charged with kidnapping Ali. Shortly after he was granted bail in 2009, Cherry was shot dead. After that the case went cold until this latest development.