By JULIEN NEAVES Friday, June 14 2013
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MARIJUANA ON THE MOVE: Police officers cart in kilos of confiscated marijuana Wednesday into the Sangre Grande First Court where it was tendered as ev...
TWENTY-TWO million dollars worth of compressed marijuana was found on Wednesday night inside a container filled with Volkswagen cars at the Port in Port-of-Spain. The container originated from Mexico and was destined for a subsidiary of two major local car dealerships.
Officers from the Customs and Excise Division discovered approximately 323.92 kilos of compressed marijuana enclosed in a 40-foot container at about 10 pm. The officers were conducting routine patrol when they discovered a bag in a secluded location. A full sweep of the Port was then ordered. A search of the container later yielded seven black duffel bags of compressed marijuana.
Alicia Charles, communications specialist at the Customs Division, reported that inside the bags were 133 packets of high-grade Jamaican “Jam” with a street value in excess of $22 million.
In a statement yesterday, Best Auto Limited, a Morvant-based car dealership jointly owned by Neal and Massy and Southern Sales, reported, “it was brought to the attention of management that one container of Volkswagen vehicles, out of a shipment of 15 consigned containers, was found to contain a quantity of marijuana.”
The statement added, Volkswagen had recently changed its shipping arrangements and the containers were shipped from the Volkswagen plant in Mexico. “As far as Best Auto is aware, the ship docked at various ports while in transit to Trinidad,” the statement added. An official from Best Auto told Newsday he had no information about the other ports and could not say which shipping agent was used.
Vishan Babwah, president of the TT Automotive Dealers Association told Newsday this is a problem car dealers have whenever they get a transshipment of vehicles from Jamaica. It was not confirmed yesterday if Jamaica was among the ports the ship carrying the containers, visited prior to arriving in Trinidad.
“The Jamaicans have found enough ways to get their drugs into this country,” Babwah said.
He reported officials have found drugs in the containers and even in the spare tyres of cars.
He said every time drugs are found in vehicles ordered by car dealers, some fingers are pointed at the dealers as being involved in the illegal drug trade. “The businessmen here are legitimate and innocent. You don’t want that stigma affecting you,” Babwah said.
Babwah called on Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Dookeran, Trade Minister Vasant Bharath, Transport Minister Chandresh Sharma and National Security Minister Emmanuel George to liaise with their Jamaican counterparts and seek to have security measures improved at ports in that Caribbean country. The $22M marijuana bust at the port came on the heels of a $11M marijuana bust in Tobago (the biggest bust in the sister isle), the seizure of $1M in marijuana in Toco for which two persons were arrested and the seizure of $1M in marijuana in central Trinidad — all during this week.
Trade Minister Bharath yesterday told Newsday he will be meeting with ministers of government of Jamaica soon but before this, will arrange to speak with Babwah to hear first hand his (Babwah) concerns. National Security Minister George said he had no proof about drugs being planted in containers while the containers are in Jamaica. He noted that drug traffickers are getting more and more innovative.
Alicia Charles, communications specialist at the Customs Division, reported that inside the bags were 133 packets of high-grade Jamaican “Jam” with a street value in excess of $22 million.
In a statement yesterday, Best Auto Limited, a Morvant-based car dealership jointly owned by Neal and Massy and Southern Sales, reported, “it was brought to the attention of management that one container of Volkswagen vehicles, out of a shipment of 15 consigned containers, was found to contain a quantity of marijuana.”
The statement added, Volkswagen had recently changed its shipping arrangements and the containers were shipped from the Volkswagen plant in Mexico. “As far as Best Auto is aware, the ship docked at various ports while in transit to Trinidad,” the statement added. An official from Best Auto told Newsday he had no information about the other ports and could not say which shipping agent was used.
Vishan Babwah, president of the TT Automotive Dealers Association told Newsday this is a problem car dealers have whenever they get a transshipment of vehicles from Jamaica. It was not confirmed yesterday if Jamaica was among the ports the ship carrying the containers, visited prior to arriving in Trinidad.
“The Jamaicans have found enough ways to get their drugs into this country,” Babwah said.
He reported officials have found drugs in the containers and even in the spare tyres of cars.
He said every time drugs are found in vehicles ordered by car dealers, some fingers are pointed at the dealers as being involved in the illegal drug trade. “The businessmen here are legitimate and innocent. You don’t want that stigma affecting you,” Babwah said.
Babwah called on Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Dookeran, Trade Minister Vasant Bharath, Transport Minister Chandresh Sharma and National Security Minister Emmanuel George to liaise with their Jamaican counterparts and seek to have security measures improved at ports in that Caribbean country. The $22M marijuana bust at the port came on the heels of a $11M marijuana bust in Tobago (the biggest bust in the sister isle), the seizure of $1M in marijuana in Toco for which two persons were arrested and the seizure of $1M in marijuana in central Trinidad — all during this week.
Trade Minister Bharath yesterday told Newsday he will be meeting with ministers of government of Jamaica soon but before this, will arrange to speak with Babwah to hear first hand his (Babwah) concerns. National Security Minister George said he had no proof about drugs being planted in containers while the containers are in Jamaica. He noted that drug traffickers are getting more and more innovative.
For more Info: http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,179118.html
Come on.... How are so much drugs comming into little Trinidad and Tobago. I think this is a crazy issue that needs to be addressed.
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