A full-fledged investigation has been launched into the discovery of seven firearms, a large quantity of ammunition and illegal narcotics stashed in the ceiling of the St Joseph Police Station.
Sources say that six pistols and a home-made shotgun, along with a large quantity of marijuana and a quantity of ammunition were discovered after officers of the T&T Police Service Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) swooped down on the station yesterday afternoon.
Sources said the CIU officers, led by ASP John Martinez, arrived at the station, now located on the Maracas/St Joseph Road, at around 1 p.m. and searched the office of a senior officer, finding the items hidden in the ceiling.
Following the find, all officers attached to the station, including those on mobile patrols and inquiries were recalled to the station where they were questioned at length.
Sources further say that directives have been issued for all detectives attached to the Criminal Investigations Department of the St Joseph Police station to be transferred with immediate effect. Ten officers are said to have been affected by this directive.
Sources further say the office in which the find was made is utilised by other officers of the station and not just the senior officer.
Contacted yesterday for a comment on this development, Sen Supt Rajendra Maraj head of the Northern Division directed all queries to acting Commissioner of Police James Philbert.
’You will need to speak with the Commissioner,’ Maraj said.
Speaking with Sunday Express yesterday, Philbert confirmed the find saying:
’There was information received that there were some items in the station which needed to be checked out and because of what it may have been, the CIU went and secured the items.’
Philbert said items recovered included ’firearms, drugs and ammunition.’
’We are trying to determine how they reached here (station) and what they relate to. There are procedures which need to be followed and investigations are continuing,’ Philbert said.
Probed further as to whether the items were of evidential nature and used in court cases, Philbert said this was not the case as all exhibits were accounted for.
Asked whether the homes of officers have been or will be searched, Philbert refused to comment, saying that investigations were on-going.
When the Sunday Express visited the station yesterday, a Crime Scene Investigator’s van belonging to the Special Anti-Crime Unit (SAUTT) was parked at the front of the station while a police photographer took shots of the station from outside the compound on Maracas Royal Road.
Operations at the station continued as usual despite the presence of the CSIs.
Members of the public were allowed inside to make their complaints and queries.
