PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Jul 22, CMC – Police said that a second suspected in the kidnapping of the 44-year-old wife of a businessman, had been shot and killed and that they are continuing their efforts “to curtail the identified threat to national security posed by these individuals who have forged themselves into this criminal syndicate”.
Police had earlier said that Jankie Satie Karim had been rescued during an operation in Balandra, a northeastern coastal village on Monday night and that one of the suspects had been killed.
Karim was abducted while travelling in a vehicle with her husband and son by three masked gunmen, less than a minute away from her home. Police confirmed the kidnappers had demanded an exorbitant ransom but said none was paid. The kidnappers also showed proof of life to relatives during their negotiations.
In its latest statement, the police said that following the “successful rescue” of Karim, the operations continued with a team of officers from the Inter Agency Task Force and the Guard and Emergency Branch proceeded to Old Piarco Road, east of here, where on upon arrival “at the home of one of the suspects, the officers announced their presence and was immediately confronted by the suspect, who was armed with a firearm”.
The police said that in keeping with their Use of Force Policy, the officers discharged their service issued firearms in response to the imminent threat.
“The officers recovered and seized one Glock 19 pistol with ammunition at the scene,” Police Commissioner, Allister Guevarro, said, adding that “my officers and I continued to work throughout the night in an effort to curtail the identified threat to national security posed by these individuals who have forged themselves into this criminal syndicate.
“At this point in time, the leaders of their group remain imprisoned at a secure location where their communication is stymied. Whilst the TTPS (Trinidad and Tobago Police Service) is out here working hard to keep these people in that secure location away from you, there are persons amongst you who are working overtime to get them out so they can continue to terrorize with Trinidad and Tobago,” he added.
“When I called for the State of Emergency, I warned that these criminal syndicates were using kidnappings and other crimes to fuel terror. With their leadership removed from their comfort zone and effectively cut off from directing their members, our operations continue with precision and resolve.
“We are not only dismantling their network, but we are also disrupting their entire business model. Jail is jail, and while we defend citizens, we will not entertain attempts to return those persons removed from the MSP (Maximum Security Prison) to a place where they were able to order assassinations, robberies, kidnappings, extortion and home invasions”.
Guevarro sent a further warning to the criminals, noting “to those still hellbent on undermining our society, I urge you to put down your weapons and become law abiding citizens. And let this be clear, hostile action against my officers will be met with lawful force”.
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