Four local men were arrested and 15 Venezuelan nationals were detained during a series of targeted anti-crime operations across the Southern Division on Saturday. The coordinated exercises, which spanned several hours, targeted both drug offenses and illegal immigration.
In the Marabella district, police officers executed an enforcement exercise between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. The operation resulted in the arrest of four suspects. Among them was a 52-year-old Couva resident who faces charges of using obscene language, resisting arrest, and disorderly behavior. Additionally, Marabella residents aged 69 and 46 were taken into custody for possession of cannabis and possession of cocaine, respectively. Officers also apprehended a 38-year-old Marabella man who was wanted on two outstanding warrants.
Earlier that day, the focus shifted to the San Fernando district, where a joint team targeting illegal immigration carried out a specialized raid between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Personnel from the Southern Division Task Force Areas West and East partnered with Immigration Enforcement Division officers and the Canine Unit.
The contingent descended upon two apartment buildings located on Cooper Street. During the search of the premises, authorities discovered 15 Venezuelan nationals who were residing in the country without legal status. All 15 individuals were immediately detained and processed by immigration authorities.
Southern Division Senior Superintendent Aaron Garcia praised the seamless collaboration between the specialized police units and external agencies. Garcia noted that these structured sweeps are part of an ongoing, heightened strategy to clamp down on localized crime and unregulated entry into the region.
The four local suspects are expected to face a magistrate early this week, while the immigration authorities continue their processing of the 15 foreign nationals for repatriation.
