MADRID: In a combined anti crime exercise involving police and several other agencies, 96 prohibited immigrants were detained after they were found to have entered the country illegally.
Among them were 45 Venezuelans, 16 Guyanese, 10 Jamaicans, 9 Chinese, 7 Cubans, 3 Colombians, and one each from Italy, the Philippines, Nigeria, Ghana, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This was revealed by Acting Superintendent Dale Ablack, of the Port of Spain Division. He was speaking at the TTPS Weekly Media Briefing at the Police Administration Building in Port of Spain on Wednesday. Supt Ablack said the detainees are in custody at the Immigration Division. The illegal immigrants were picked up during exercises over the period October 6 to December 7 along Independence Square, Charlotte Street and in the Woodbrook area and some were found to have been employed as taxi drivers, restaurant workers and engaged in other activities. Among the supporting agencies involved in the exercises were, Immigration Division; Licensing Office; Transit Police; Customs and Excise Division; Port Police and Port of Spain City Corporation Patrol Unit. In addition, Supt Ablack disclosed that the Financial Investigations Unit of the TTPS is currently investigating the operation of an illegal betting machine, after a female suspect was detained along Charlotte Street.
He gave the assurance that there would be more anti crime exercises throughout the Christmas period and into the 2018 Carnival season, to ensure the Division remains safe and secure.
