RHONDOR DOWLAT-ROSTANT
For the year so far the T&T Police Service (TTPS) has seized approximately 142 firearms, 24 of which are high-powered.
This was revealed by the acting Commissioner of Police McDonald Jacob during the launch of the newly formed National Operations Task Force (NOTF).
Jacob also launched its Multi-Agency Firearm Retrieval Initiative.
Jacob said last year the TTPS seized 680 guns, over 50 of which were high powered weapons.
Jacob added that this programme has already been tested during the early part of this year, "working with the agencies as we launch this programme and in so doing we have recovered 142 firearms."
"Those firearms, 24 are already high powered. So this demonstrates the extent we are dealing with," Jacob said.
"And out of 108 murders for the year so far, 94 were involving the use of firearms," he added.
The statistics, he said, is a clear indication that there's a "serious issue with the use of firearms and it is causing murder and other serious injuries to our citizens."
"So it is necessary that all the agencies come together and work together to deal with this particular initiative. Yes we have the operational side of it, but it is a total joint effort to deal with this aspect of firearms," he said.
He also disclosed that the TTPS has arrested 226 persons and charged them for various firearm offences including shooting and wounding, and possession.
"Yet the scourge continues. So I think we can all understand and appreciate why we need to take this joint approach because it is affecting every one of us and all the various departments. So this effort we will impact significantly dealing with the aspect of and seizure of firearms in T&T," Jacob said.
"Recently we had a significant find where 24 firearms were seized at a bond in Couva, and again I want to thank the joint effort of the police. In 2021 we had three such finds so it is clear there is in fact a transnational relationship in what is happening in TT and therefore our international partners are paying an important part in the front end to assist us in this fight," he added.
With respect to the status of the investigations in the recent gun hauls Jacob said although no update is publicly being given it doesn't mean that investigating officers have stopped investigating, "both investigations are active and will leave it at that. Those things come to those who wait. Yes we know the comments out there but we have to do our investigation in a prudent manner so when we take persons before the court, we can be successful. Especially in things that have transnational relationships. That takes effort. So all I can tell you is the investigations are positively active."
He said that it was not the first time most of these agencies have come together, "We have several. About six to eight operating together at any given time and we have a coordinative approach and will use technology to assist us and we have units which work hand in hand with the multi-agency approach."
Asked where the illicit firearms are coming from, Jacob replied: "We have tracing capabilities and done what is required but the investigation is being conducted and it’s too early to reveal at this stage where it came from."
"We can talk about the amount of firearms, we have three major finds last year and already have one major one this year, so we know weapons are indeed coming through our legal ports of entry and work is being done by the various agencies and our international partners to eradicate that sort of processes taking place within our various ports," Jacob said.
To those who are arrested and charged for possession, Jacob said about 60 per cent charged are repeat offenders.
He also said that Northern, then Central, then Southern were the order of most arrests and guns found with the highest being in the Northern area.
