00:00Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander spoke with TV6 News via telephone about the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service's announcement of
00:08their seizure of approximately 416.5 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of TT193.5 million dollars discovered
00:20inside backhoe tires.
00:22It's a seizure the TTPS is describing as a major blow to the illegal drug trade.
00:27Let me commend the Commissioner of Police and his team as these officers continue to show that level of commitment
00:35in the fight against narcotics, illegal narcotics and illegal firearms.
00:42This type of work must be commended because it speaks to intelligence, it speaks to working with other agencies, it
00:49speaks to working with members of the public.
00:51The TTPS said the seizure occurred during an intelligence-led exercise at premises along Pucoro Road in the Londonville Police
00:59District coordinated by Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Criminal Division, Corrine Francis, with operational leadership provided by Acting Assistant Superintendent
01:10of Police St. Clair from 3.40 a.m. on Wednesday to 3.30 a.m. on Thursday.
01:16The TTPS said that acting under the authority of Section 12 of the Emergency Powers Regulations 2026, officers proceeded to
01:26the identified premises and conducted a careful and systematic search,
01:31with officers having observed six large backhoe tires mounted on rims inside the warehouse.
01:38The TTPS said a close examination resulted in the discovery of 420 rectangular packages concealed within four of the tires
01:47which were seized.
01:49The TTPS further said with the assistance of Customs and Excise Officers, the 420 packages were weighed and recorded as
01:56having a combined weight of approximately 416.5 kilograms with an estimated street value of $193,522,560.
02:09I also want to commend Officer St. Clair and his team because over the past year and a half, that
02:20particular team continues to show that they too go beyond the call or duty.
02:26And they are representing the Tunitano-Tampico Police Service quite well.
02:30Every time you look, you see that they are showing up in terms of their success rate.
02:36The TTPS said the seized items were taken to the Special Investigations Unit in Port of Spain.
02:42According to the police service, a 42-year-old businessman from the British Virgin Islands was arrested in connection with
02:48the seizure,
02:49while two St. Lucian nationals, aged 38 and 37, were also detained and taken to the St. Joseph Police Station
02:56pending further inquiries.
02:58The TTPS said investigations are continuing.
03:02Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
03:06Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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