Police arrest main gang members in Enterprise; charges pending

PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar meets residents of Enterprise Saturday

Police arrested eight people during a security exercise in Enterprise, Chaguanas, Sunday. 

Supt. Johnny Abraham, head of the Central Division, told reporters police arrested the main players in the gang that has been causing havoc in Enterprise and recovered two pistols and a quantity of ammunition. 

He gave the Newsday newspaper some details of the operation, which involved the Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit: "Among the eight arrested, we have about eight warrants for one for recent shooting offences as recent as last week; and another one for a series of shooting offences; one for possession of firearm and the next one for possession of firearm and ammunition...These men will most likely be charged later this week."

On Saturday Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar visited the area and announced that the protective forces mount a special operation to return peace and stability to the area.  

PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar during a walkabout Saturday in Enterprise

She visited the area hours after returning from the annual Caricom summit in Barbados.

She told reporters that prior to her departure for Barbados on Thursday she had convened a meeting of the national security council to discuss plans and strategies to deal with the upsurge of violence in the area.

She said, "We agreed that we will make sure that whatever plans that will be put in place that it will be one that we will call Operation Restore." The force in place comprises army and police officers to provide regular patrols throughout the communities. She said police would establish a post in the area.