Five people were arrested and a firearm, ammunition and quantities of cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine and ecstasy were seized during a series of police exercises conducted across Trinidad on Friday.
Police said officers of the Central Division Task Force, Areas North and South, carried out an Operation Steady Guard exercise in Central Division South between 6 pm and 10 pm.
Acting on intelligence, officers went to an address along Rodney Road, Chaguanas, where they informed a 38-year-old man of their intention to conduct a search.
During the exercise, officers allegedly found and seized 516 grammes of cannabis, 12 grammes of cocaine, 44 ecstasy pills and 12 grammes of methamphetamine.
The man was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Police also arrested two other men during the operation, a 67-year-old of Cashew Gardens and a 36-year-old of Caroni Savannah Road.
In a separate exercise between 10 am and 1 pm, members of the Eastern Division Gang Intelligence Unit conducted surveillance operations in the Eastern Division.
Officers went to Fishing Pond Road, where they reportedly saw a man known to them emerging from a forested area carrying a shotgun.
Police said the officers identified themselves and called out to the suspect, who dropped the firearm and fled into the forest.
The suspect escaped, but officers recovered a shotgun and five rounds of ammunition during a search of the area.
Meanwhile, officers of the Port of Spain Division carried out house searches in Belmont, Besson Street, Central Port of Spain and Woodbrook at about 4 pm.
Police searched six houses and arrested two men.
A 34-year-old Aranguez man was arrested in connection with shooting enquiries, while a 34-year-old Belmont man was held in relation to alleged gang-related activities and shooting enquiries.
Officers also seized 700 grammes of cannabis during the exercise in Aranguez.
Investigations into the incidents are continuing.
