'Deeply concerning'
BY ALEXANDER BRUZUAL
alexander.bruzual@trinidadexpress.com
SENIOR OFFICERS in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) are raising questions about the number of spent shells found at crime scenes this year which carry markings associated with law enforcement.
Concerns increased over the last week when shells were found at four crime scenes.
One of the incidents involved the murder of 36-year-old Jabari Williams who was fatally shot on Tuesday night in the car park of Tru Valu Supermarket in Diego Martin.
The Sunday Express was told 24 spent 9mm shells were found at that scene, and of that number six of the spent shells had the marking 'TTR' while four spent shells had 'TTPS' markings.
These markings are associated with the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
The markings are usually laser- engraved on shells to allow the rounds to be identified when they are used by law enforcement, with the added hope that it would deter criminal elements from using them.
'Last year into earlier this year we had situations like this happening, where we would find marked shells on crime scenes, especially homicides. There was a lull for a bit, but like now for several scenes we have found these shells again. I know there was an investigation launched, but it is deeply concerning to us. Because the question has to be asked and answered: how are these shells being found in these locations? Being used in criminal activities?' a senior source in the TTPS told the Sunday Express.
Earlier this year, the TTPS launched an investigation into how such marked shells seemed to be making their way into the hands of criminal elements.
But up to late yesterday, the status of this investigation could not be updated.
The Sunday Express was informed by several sources that the TTPS was in the process of putting in place stricter guidelines for disposal and accounting for expired ammunition, and had meetings over the last 18 months with foreign firearms experts on the best way forward.
Director of the Police Complaints Authority David West told the Sunday Express the PCA has several investigations ongoing into the discovery of spent shells at various scenes.
In a press release on December 29 last year, the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment indicated it was cooperating with the police following reports that ammunition rounds bearing the marking 'TTR' had been found at several crime scenes last year.
The Regiment noted then that it was 'working tirelessly' and cooperating with the TTPS to determine the authenticity of the rounds found on the scenes.
'The Regiment wishes to reassure the public that systems are in place to safeguard our ammunition from falling into the hands of criminal elements and this includes accounting procedures to prevent occurrences of unauthorised use. Based on the outcome of such review, the necessary military disciplinary actions will be instituted to address any contraventions of criminal law,' the release stated.
However, almost a year has passed and there have not been official updates.
In December 2022, there were at least four incidents where ammunition rounds that bore the marking of 'TTR' were found on crime scenes.
Businessman and firearms dealer Brent Thomas told the Sunday Express that he was concerned about the findings.
'Many years ago, when the problem of ammo from these agencies were suspected of finding its way into the wrong hands, a team was put together to finding a solution, and I was responsible (for it).
'After lengthy discussions with key personnel in the industry, it was decided that all ammo for T&T law enforcement would be laser engraved with the markings of the respective agencies of use such as TTR, TTPS, TTCG, etc. This would allow the ammo to be tracked and hopefully, it would discourage the bad elements in the various units from doing the wrong thing. I believe they were very successful until lately,' Thomas said.
Former head of the National Operations Centre and strategic security consultant Garvin Heerah told the Sunday Express he, too, was concerned and this was an issue that needed immediate redress.
'Despite the TTDF's declaration of an audit ensuring the integrity of their stock, the recurring presence of these markings raises alarming questions about potential diversion. It warrants a focused effort on special intelligence operations within the TTDF, incorporating intrusive investigations involving reliable sources to ascertain and verify any unauthorised link. Consideration should be given to undertaking serious covert operations to address and rectify this critical issue, ensuring the security of military assets and preventing their misuse in criminal activities. And a similar case can be made for the TTPS,' Heerah said.
He noted that mitigating the threat and risk of spent shells with law enforcement markings being used in criminal activities requires a multifaceted approach.
Earlier this year, Derrick Sankar, director of the Forensic Science Centre, appeared before Parliament's Joint Select Committee meeting and indicated it was possible these spent shells may be cartridge cases that were used previously on shooting ranges and other areas and they were 'reloaded' (recycled) by the criminal element.
'If you find in a crime scene a TTDF or TTPS head stamp on a cartridge case, one would think it's TTDF or TTPS-sourced ammunition and was taken from the army or police and you'd think 'ah boy, there's some level of corruption' and that's gotten into the criminal element. As to which gun it's used in, is a different thing,' Sankar said.
In May, National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds told the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives that the TTDF and TTPS had mechanisms to account for all of their ammunition.
FLASHBACK: Bullet shells collected with'TTPS' markings at the scene of a shooting.
