3 Haitians held in suspected guns-for-drugs bust

Police Commissioner George Quallo is hailing the arrest of three Haitians in Clarendon on Tuesday as a major dent in the guns-for-drugs trade.

The three were among five persons held by the cops during a series of special operations in the parish, which is believed to be one of the major gateways for guns entering the island from Haiti.

The Haitians have been identified as 22-year-old Steven Thomas, a fisherman of Saint-Louis du Sud; Charles Roberts, 35, a technician of Guard Anse; and Tedie Chal, unemployed of Nasablin, also from that country.

According to the police, during an operation on Sharp Avenue in the parish, $2 million and more than 500 assorted rounds of ammunition were seized.

The Gleaner understands that starting about 5 p.m., on Tuesday, and continuing until early yesterday morning, a search was conducted at a premises, during which the police say that 209 point-45 rounds, 101 point-40 rounds, 61 nine-millimetre rounds, and seven 10-calibre rounds were found.

The operation continued at premises on Hazard Drive in the parish, where J$1.823 million, US$401, and CDN$5 were found.

An auto body repairman from May Pen, Clarendon, was seen at the premises in a black Honda motor car.

The car was searched and the police reportedly found several rounds of ammunition hidden in socks.

It is suspected that the money was to pay for the ammunition, which had been illegally taken into the island by the Haitians.