The deaths of two reputed gang leaders were among the crime stories that dominated the headlines during the year. Vaughn “Sandman” Mieres was murdered at his Las Cuevas home, while Akani “Dole” Adams, died in a police-involved killing. Ironically, the two men died on the same day.
On the morning of July 25, 15 gunmen armed with AR15S ambushed Mieres, 44, his wife, Alika “Letty” Dehere and two others at their School Street home. Witnesses said there was 30 minutes of continual gunfire. Mieres’ two children were made to lie on the ground while the gunmen hunted down their parents and killed them.
Mieres’ body was found in an upright position halfway under a mattress, while his wife was found in a slouched position leaning against there wall of a cupboard where it was believed that she was hiding. Two other bodies were found on the compound, one in a hammock and the other in the front yard. They were identified as Nigel “Blood” Octim and Kadir Joseph.
One of the main suspects was held and being questioned by the police. They said he was shot and wounded by police during a chase.
Investigators described the killings as well-orchestrated. The gunmen entered Las Cuevas in a Hyundai Tucson and AD Wagon, burnt the two vehicles and fled the murder scene in a pirogue.
Sources said the killings were linked to an incident in June when there was an attempt on the lives of two of Mieres’ children.
Mieres was believed to be involved in drugs and gun smuggling along the north coast and had been linked to criminal activities in several areas including La Fillette, Malick, Bourg Mulatresse, San Juan, Barataria and Maraval. He also had criminal associates in Beetham and Port-of-Spain.
Police said they had information that Mieres had found out who was behind the attack on his children and was planning “deadly revenge”. In that incident, on June 12, gunmen opened fire on a vehicle in which two of Mieres’ children were passengers along Belmont Circular Road near the Providence Girls’ Catholic School. Three students were treated for injuries and mental trauma and the driver of the vehicle transporting the children, James Gordon, of Maracas was shot but managed to escape.
Mieres’ children were taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital for emergency treatment along with an 18-year-old student who was shot in the leg.
A close associate of Mieres said a man stood on the corner and witnessed everything. He called two names, one of whom is in police custody.
“Do not bite the hands that feed you and that’s what he did. He came back with another man we know and some people from Sea Lots somewhere on that side because they want to come here and take over his boats. Why would Sandman be linked to the theft of boats and engines? He not on them thing. He have lots of boats right here,” the associate said.
“They said he was involved in drugs and guns but I never see that. Just recently I went across to Tobago with him with 2,500 pounds of fish and that’s what he did. He was a fisherman and fish vendor.”
The acquaintance said Mieres had decided to change his life about five years ago.
“You see when you decide to change your life there’s always an unguarded moment and there it was. We had no guns to fight back because we are now peaceful people. Sandman kept the peace here for years and he was everybody father,” he said
The associate said Mieres had been accused of ordering a July 19 drive-by shooting in Maraval in which two men were killed. Ian Sharpe and Keon Timothy were liming near a basketball court on Morne Coco Road when a vehicle drove by and the occupants opened fire. Both were taken for medical treatment but succumbed to their injuries.
“They say that Maraval was linked to the Belmont shooting where his kids escaped and that he was the one behind the drive-by. That same night police took Sandman in custody and then released him and then come back two days after for him but he was peaceful. He troubled no one. In fact, he had forgotten about that shooting and had put it behind him, “ the associate said.
An abandoned house lose to where Mieres lived was burnt flat two days after his death. The last persons to occupy the house were a couple who had left the area approximately six weeks earlier.
Hours after Mieres’ killing, Adams died in a police-involved shooting in Sea Lots. A team of police officers later searched the entire community and seized arms, ammunition and drugs, including an AK 47 and more than 200 rounds of ammunition. Several persons were detained for questioning and later charged.
On the night of July 25 into the following morning, as part of an immediate “Strike back operation” supervised by Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith, officers seized 278 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, an AK 47, a shotgun, a bulletproof vest, six kilogrammes of marijuana and one kilogramme of cocaine.
One angry young resident commented: “They saying how Dole and we went Las Cuevas to kill Sandman but that’s not true either. Why would we do that? We not responsible for the fishermen being murdered too. Them police wicked and just want to blame us for everything.”
Another young man said: “Jealousy is a terrible thing you know. Them police testing our patience. We could light them up you know. Blow them up just so. Them have toys and we have too. I say no more.”
Adams’ relatives claimed he had been trying to help the Central families of the fishermen that had been killed in an attack in the Gulf of Paria.
“Dole had nothing to do with the murders. He was not a murderer. He had an idea who was behind that attack and was trying to get to the bottom of it. The police pinned a lot of murders on him but he never killed anyone. He worked hard out on the seas, “ a relative said.
On July 23, police recovered four boat engines in Sea Lots believed to have been stolen by thieves in the Gulf of Paria on the night of July 22 when seven fishermen were robbed and thrown out of their pirogues. Four people from Sea Lots were arrested in connection with the boat engines but no charges were laid.
Charges against ‘Sandman’
In September 2017, Mieres was charged with conspiracy to murder Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis, leader of a gang in Enterprise, Chaguanas, who was murdered on July 17, 2016.
Mieres appeared before Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John, in the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court, and was later released on $450,000 bail.
He was arrested after police executed a search warrant at his home for dangerous drugs between 11 pm and 8.15 pm on August 30 and 31, 2017. Police allegedly seized US$5,330, TT$1,100 in cash and several pieces of camouflage clothing.
Mieres had also been arrested during the 2011 State of Emergency and charged with being a gang leader. He was subsequently released on bail.