PORT OF SPAIN – Police have planned “heightened operations” throughout the country following a string of gun-related murders in recent days.
This was revealed yesterday by public information officer for the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) ASP Michael Pierre, during a news briefing at the TTPS administration building on Edward Street, Port of Spain.
Responding to questions about a spike in killings in the last week, including three double murders, Pierre said the police had noted a rise in gun-related crimes and were taking measures to bring them under control.
“The police operational team has met and will embark upon a particular exercise that will be done over the upcoming weeks,” he said.
Asked what the exercise would entail, Pierre declined to elaborate, but asked for the public’s compliance.
“We will have heightened operations and we ask the members of the public to comply and assist us in this regard. We are very concerned with all murders and our intensity and drive to solving them would be even greater than before,” he said.
Pierre blamed easy access to firearms for the rise in the murder rate, which has now surpassed the toll for the same period last year.
The murder toll for the year to date currently stands at 305, up from 300 for the same period in 2014.
Eighty per cent of murders committed this year have been with the use of firearms, he said. However, Pierre noted that there has been an increase in the amount of drugs and guns seized by the police as a result of increased policing in hotspots and other areas.
An estimated $11.5 million worth of cocaine and $15 million worth of marijuana have been seized for the year thus far, he said.
Four hundred and twenty-nine firearms have also been seized, up from 421 for the same period in 2014.
He noted the sophistication of the weapons seized, including 25 rifles and 18 sub-machine guns.
He added that the police have been able to link some of the illegal firearms to several murders.
Asked for updates on several ongoing investigations, including the deadly July 24 prison break and the escape of two prisoners from the Carrera island prison on August 31, Pierre said he was unable to give any further information at this time. (Express)