00:00For the last week, questions have been raised about the importation of the
00:04sniper rifles for which Commissioner of Police, Ulla Harewood Christopher was
00:08arrested and later released pending further investigations by police after
00:12seeking advice from the DPP. The fireman port permit dated October 10th, 2023 with
00:18an expiration date of October 10th, 2024 which has been obtained exclusively by
00:24CCN and the Trinidad Express shows it was stamped and signed off by the
00:28Commissioner of Police for firearms dealer Luke Hadid of Aston Enterprises
00:32Limited at the Trinity Industrial Estate. The purpose of the weapons was
00:37for open quote resale purposes close quote according to the permit which was
00:41copied to Comptroller of Customs and Excise and Senior Superintendent of the
00:46Special Branch. Top-level national security and senior intelligence
00:50officials in the know told TV6 News that these high-powered weapons could only
00:55have been brought in for military or police on a request made by these law
00:58enforcement entities however the document does not indicate that the
01:02request was made by any of these authorities. Sources explained that a
01:07firearms dealer cannot bring in these weapons for resale purposes and this in
01:11essence they claimed was a breach and should have been restricted. Another top
01:16national security source said a senior police officer cannot issue these kinds
01:19of firearms for resale purposes. Another senior intelligence officer said the
01:24silencers in question were also prohibited and could only have been
01:28brought in by the military or police. A national security official also familiar
01:33with the document said that the second breach was handing over these firearms
01:37to the SSA who at that time had no legal remit to possess such heavy firepower. A
01:43top-ranking intelligence official explained how the investigation had
01:47unraveled. He said the matter was first brought to the attention of the DPP on
01:51November 21st 2024. A few days later senior officer of the investigating team
01:56wrote to the TTPS requesting any files and further evidence the source said.
02:01Sources say the rifles which had first been in the possession of customs was
02:07later transferred to the SSA and then last year was seized by the TTPS and
02:12placed in their armory on the compound of the TTPS police training college in
02:16St. James. The investigators sources say were not successful despite making
02:21requests for the rifles and a warrant was executed at the armory sometime in
02:25December 2024 and the rifles seized. Earlier on Wednesday TV6 news spoke with
02:31Hadid via phone to get a sense of the process before receiving this document
02:35but he indicated he would not make a statement. TV6 news attempted to reach
02:41Hadid at least two hours after receiving this firearm import permit. However all
02:46calls to his phone remain unanswered. TV6 text him many questions about the
02:50document about 1.39 p.m. via whatsapp but he didn't respond. Calls to his lawyer
02:56also went unanswered. Deputy Police Commissioner Suzette Martin contacted
03:00Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley in his capacity as head of the National
03:04Security Council on Saturday last requesting that he disclose any
03:08information regarding the procurement of two sniper rifles as well as any
03:12involvement by Police Commissioner either Herewood Christopher or retired
03:16Major Roger Best. In a letter Martin asked Rowley did Commissioner Police
03:21either Herewood Christopher and or former SSA director retired Major Roger
03:25Best notify the NSC about the agency's intent to procure the rifles and if so
03:32was it approved. Another question asked was did Herewood Christopher inform the
03:37NSC should approve the SSA's request to procure the rifles through licensed
03:41firearm dealer Luke Hadid, Managing Director of Aston Enterprises Limited.
03:45Martin told Dr. Rowley that the request was for his urgent attention and
03:50assistance. TV6 news was told by sources close to the investigation the issue of
03:54the procurement of the sniper rifles was raised at a meeting of the NSC but
03:58adequate answers were not given and those who may have knowledge of the
04:02transaction did not offer any information. Mark Besant TV6 news
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