The U-S Embassy has commended the role the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Vetted Unit played in a 25 million U-S dollar drug bust in Portugal 10 days after it occurred.
The Embassy said it is part of Operation Vikings which had been investigating a targeted drug-trafficking organization for two years.
00:00The U.S. Embassy said that on June 14, security cooperation between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago resulted in the seizure of 1,660 kilograms of cocaine in Portugal with U.S. $25 million and the arrest of three foreign nationals.
00:17The embassy said that for several months, agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the DEA, based at the U.S. Embassy in Port of Spain and officers from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service vetted unit, the Transnational Organized Crime Unit and the Seaport Corporation Project worked a bilateral maritime narcotics trafficking case together.
00:40The embassy said a sailboat laden with the cocaine left Trinidad waters in early June and was intercepted on June 14 by the Portuguese Navy and the Portuguese judicial police off the Azores Archipelago in Portugal, resulting in the seizure and three crew members between 43 and 51 years of age being arrested.
01:01The embassy said the June 14 seizure of the targeted sailboat was part of a complex operation called Operation Vikings involving DEA agents in Trinidad and Tobago, Portugal, Spain and Denmark and several law enforcement agencies in Portugal.
01:18U.S. Chargedy Affairs, Dr. Jennifer Naira de Ortiz, was quoted as having commended local DEA agents, officers from the TTPS vetted unit and the TOKU for their diligence and professionalism.
01:33The Chargedy Affairs said the U.S. will continue to support Trinidad and Tobago law enforcement agencies.
01:38On June 17, shortly after having received his instrumental appointment, the new police commissioner, Alistair Guevaro, recognized the presence of representatives of the U.S. government at the first ever Top Cup handing over ceremony in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:53When we were in need in the Trinidad and Tobago police service of assistance in any manner, they would have stepped forward.
02:04And I have been the security and intelligence liaison for the Trinidad and Tobago police service for many years.
02:10And I would have seen many incarnations and transfer of power take place.
02:15But I can rest assured that we have great partners in the U.S. government.
02:20Clap for that.
02:24On June 17th, the police commissioner made no mention of the drug bust in Portugal on June 14th.
02:30On November 14th of last year, the U.S. Embassy announced that the U.S. and the Trinidad and Tobago formally signed a memorandum of understanding that establishes a specialized vetted unit within the Trinidad and Tobago police service.
Be the first to comment