A Nigerian national said to be the mastermind behind the transhipment of several kilogrammes of cocaine and heroin between the Caribbean, the United States and Europe, was arrested yesterday morning by Narcotics Unit officers.
Preceding yesterday's bust, there were six other arrests between Friday and yesterday.
A 24-year-old female US citizen was about to board a flight to New York around 3 p.m. on Friday, when OCNU officers searched her luggage and allegedly found several grammes of cocaine in curry powder bags. They seized a total of one kilogramme of cocaine, with an estimated value of $400,000.
The bags were said to be packed neatly between items of clothing in her bags. She was immediately arrested and taken to the Arima Police Station, where she was charged.
The woman will appear before an Arima magistrate tomorrow.
Four hours later, around 7 p.m., officers under ASP Franklyn Edwards and Insp Lendore went to a house at Westmoorings Boulevard, where they arrested four men-ages 20, 22, 24 and 29-and charged them with possession of 60 grammes of marijuana.
Officers believe that the men grew the narcotic themselves
The four were taken into custody and will appear before a Port of Spain magistrate tomorrow.
At 5.50 a.m. yesterday, OCNU then arrested a 22-year-old man as he was about to board an American Eagle flight to Puerto Rico with six kilogrammes of heroin.
The officers allegedly found the heroin sewn into items like table mats, sandals and trousers. The heroin has been valued at $5 million and the suspect will appear before an Arima magistrate tomorrow.
Police describe the arrest of the Nigerian national though as "a major breakthrough" in their investigations into narcotics trafficking. Officers remained tight-lipped about what charges would be laid, noting that the man was wanted in "several jurisdictions apart from our own".
The Sunday Express understands that the suspect had been under surveillance for two years and is said to have been behind several thwarted attempts to smuggle cocaine out of Trinidad and Tobago using drug mules.
