Five Venezuelans have been held this week, in two separate incidents, for immigration offences, according to reports from the Police Service.
In one incident, the TTPS says three Venezuelans were detained in Palo Seco by Siparia Police, for illegal entry into Trinidad on Monday 23rd November 2020.
In the other, an anti-crime exercise in Moruga led to the arrest of two Venezuelans for immigration offences, on Tuesday 24th November 2020.
3 Venezuelans detained in Palo Seco
Reports are that around 11 pm on Monday, Sgt Gosine and a party of officers from the Santa Flora Police Station responded to a call for assistance from the South Western Division Task Force (SWDTF).
The officers reportedly proceeded to Beach Road, Palo Seco, where upon arrival, they met Cpl Lake and a party of officers from the SWDTF, and observed three male Venezuelan nationals in a vehicle.
The Venezuelan nationals were arrested and then conveyed to the Siparia Health Facility to be medically examined.
The three detainees were then taken to the Santa Flora Police Station pending further enquiries by the Immigration Division.
Two Venezuelans among five arrested in Moruga
In the second incident, two Venezuelans were among five persons arrested for various offences during an anti-crime exercise conducted in the Moruga Police district on Tuesday 24th November, 2020.
The exercise included officers of the Moruga Police Station, and was carried out between 2:10 pm and 7:00pm on Tuesday.
The TTPS says during the exercise, police arrested a 24-year-old man of Tucupita, Venezuela, for driving without a Driver’s Permit, failure to produce a Driver’s Permit, driving without a Certificate of Insurance, and failure to produce a Certificate of Insurance. In addition, a 27-year-old man of Tucupita, Venezuela, also was arrested for immigration offences.
The police exercise also resulted in the arrest of:
1. A 33-year-old man of La Lune, Moruga, for possession of marijuana;
2. A 50-year-old man of St Mary’s, Moruga, for possession of marijuana;
3. A 26-year-old man of Penal, for driving without a Driver’s Permit, failure to produce a Driver’s Permit, driving without a Certificate of Insurance, and failure to produce a Certificate of Insurance.
Investigations are ongoing into both incidents.