State of emergency tally: 820 arrested

The Venezuela-made FAL high powered assault rifle and 257 rounds of assorted ammunition which were among a stash of contraband found by police during a raid at Picton Road, Laventille Monday

The Commissioner of Police confirmed on Monday that security personnel have now detained a total of 820 people since the State of Emergency was declared on August 23.

Dwayne Gibbs gave the figure at the daily media briefings, noting that 30 people were arrested in the overnight.

He said five of them have connections to gangs, six were picked up on drug related offences and one for breach of curfew rules.

So far 298 persons detained are for alleged connections to gangs. "Our intent is to bring back a very peaceful and tranquil community for Trinidad and Tobago and we will continue on in that direction," Gibbs told reporters."

He also since 15 guns and 1,000 rounds of ammunition have been seized during the State of Emergency. "You can see that we have made a significant dent for this year in the gun trade. We have taken a lot of guns off the streets," he said.