A 26-year-old Trinidadian man was denied bail when he appeared in a Couva Magistrate Court, in west-central Trinidad, charged with importing a cache of weapons.
The court heard that Shaquille Joseph was arrested in connection with the discovery of the weapons which included, nine high-powered rifles, 23 ammunition magazines, three rifle barrels, one silencer, one double barrel drum and other firearm accessories.
A statement from the Customs and Excise Division said he was arrested on December 29.
Joseph was also charged with packing the weapons in a manner to deceive officers. Both charges were laid, and he was not called on to plead. He is expected to reappear in court on January 31.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) said a strategic exercise involving different arms of law enforcement, led to the seizure of the high-powered firearms, ammunition and component parts.
It said the authorities had conducted an ongoing profiling operation, at a bond located in Central Trinidad and a package consigned to a Chaguanas man was ‘suspected’ and kept under observation.
“As such, both consignee and package were secured, and the package was searched. During the search, the officers observed that the frame of the package consisted of a hidden bottom compartment. When the team of officers further checked the compartment, a large quantity of high-powered firearms, magazines, and other components parts for firearms were found,” the TTPS added.
Trinidad and Tobago recorded 605 murders, most carried out with illegal firearms in 2022. So far this year, six people have been shot and killed.
CMC/
