Seven persons were arrested in connection with illegal quarrying activities and breaching the Covid-19 Regulations. They were held during an anti-crime exercise conducted in the Cumuto district by officers of the Northern Division’s Major Operations Team.
According to reports officers was conducted an exercise between 9:00 am and 11:00 am, on Monday 4th May 2020, in the Cumuto forest. It included officers of the Operation Strike Back Team, the Inspector of State Lands and personnel of the Forestry Division and Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force.
During the exercise, officers proceeded to an area of land where they observed two excavators, a front loader, and trucks being operated by a group of men.
The operators were asked to show documentation granting them permission to operate during the Covid-19 Regulations.
It was subsequently discovered by the Inspector of State Lands that the area being excavated was State Lands and no permission was given by any agency to have quarrying conducted.
Forestry officials also indicated that no permission was granted to destroy trees on the area of land.
Seven men, ages 32 to 65, of the Chaguanas, La Horquetta, and Cumuto districts were arrested in connection with the matter.
Investigations are continuing .
