In light of reports in St Lucian Press that gangs from Trinidad and Tobago are recruiting members from the island, the TTPS says its willing to work with its partners.
00:00 The CIB said that they have received credible intelligence that gang leaders of the 6 and 7 gangs from Trinidad and Tobago may have visited St Lucia.
00:10 St Lucia Choice Media Network is reporting that the 6 and 7 gangs based in Trinidad and Tobago are using their island, St Lucia, to recruit new members.
00:22 Senior Superintendent Christopher Papanet, who leads the Special Investigations Unit of the TTPS, says him and his team will be contacting the Royal St Lucia Police.
00:35 I wish to indicate that this report cannot be substantiated at this time. Having received notice of this via the recording that I saw, the TTPS will focus and will be directed to this and is directed to our partnership with our regional stakeholders.
00:58 We will reach out to other stakeholders, which will include St Lucia, to clarify the issue.
01:07 While he says the 6 and 7 gangs do exist in Trinidad and Tobago, he could not say if they do in fact have links to the 6 and 7 existing in Jamaica.
01:19 While we are aware of these names, 6 and 7, which are associated with gangs operating within Trinidad, we cannot specify that these members are actually going to different countries, regional countries, with the intention of committing crimes.
01:42 While Senior Superintendent Papanet says given the St Lucia report, and despite jurisdictional limitations, attempts will be made to share information as necessary.
01:55 It is our intention, as I said, to partner with our regional law enforcement brothers and sisters to investigate these matters, to curb and combat where applicable transnational, because some of these speak to transnational organized crime and the activities of gangs, which includes criminal activities.
02:18 So we would reach out and we would partner and work together with our regional partners to address this situation.
02:26 And while it is being bandied about that gangs fund artistes and songs are used to perpetuate violence throughout the region, Senior Superintendent says that is still to be proved.
02:39 Once there are no restrictions in relation to these artistes, and there isn't any conclusive proof that they are involved in criminal activities in other regional countries, in other Caribbean countries, I cannot look to address the particular individuals.
03:00 But we will look at it generally now that it is has been brought to our attention to investigate any such links.
03:10 The connection between gangs and music has long been studied across the world, where police and security organizations believe gangs use music to loan the money, recruit members and perpetuate violence.
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