Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher has sent another strong message to criminals following Tuesday’s haul of arms, ammunition and other paraphernalia in Santa Cruz.
“We are onto them. We are relentless. We will continue,” Harewood-Christopher said as she viewed the items seized at the headquarters of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) in Aranguez, hours after the exercise.
Harewood-Christoper indicated that she believes the T&T Police Service’s strategies and its Violent Crime Reduction Plan are working.
In a release issued on Tuesday night, the top CoP additionally said she has “every confidence that as we continue to update our strategies and implement our plans, we will continue to get the desired results.”
According to police reports, between 1 pm and 7 pm on Wednesday, IATF officers, under the supervision of Snr Supt Roger Alexander, along with Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB) officers, under the supervision of Snr Supt Elie and the Canine Unit, journeyed approximately two miles into a forested area at Cangrejal Road, Santa Cruz where they found and seized the illegal items.
The following items were recovered:
• Four AK-47 rifles
• One 50cal Desert Eagle
• One .45 revolver
• Two shotguns
• 23 rounds 5.56 ammunition
• 38 assault rifle magazines
• 91 lower receivers
• An assortment of assault rifle parts
• Several items of police kits
• Four police bulletproof vests
• Blue swivel lights
Harewood-Christopher added, “We expect that this seizure will again significantly impact the incidence of violent crimes committed with the use of firearms, especially homicides and home invasions. I would like to thank and commend the officers involved in this seizure, you have placed yourselves in harm’s way and put your lives at risk with the aim of keeping our nation safe. I also thank the public and especially those who see something and say something.
“We will maintain our intensity in the seizure of illegal firearms, and we will relentlessly pursue those bent on being involved in criminal activity.”
This was the second seizure of arms and ammunition in the Cangrejal Road area. Last Wednesday, police received information and also went into the area, where they found over 35 high-powered weapons, assorted ammunition and explosives.
On Tuesday, Guardian Media was told that officers received additional information about more weapons and other items being hidden in the area, which prompted the IATF and GEB to head up to the area again.
Residents in the area were reluctant to identify themselves when asked how they felt about the fact that arms and ammunition were being kept in their community, but had strong views on the matter.
One resident said, “I don’t know, but the police seem to know or think they know what they’re doing. We just look on but I don’t know who fools who nowadays.”
Another resident said the police ought to make arrests and not only recover guns and ammunition.
“Where the people who are behind all this? No arrests, so then they can bring in more into the country. The police need to make arrests, then we will feel more happy and relieved.”