Pubdate: Mon, 18 Feb 2008
Source: Trinidad Express (Trinidad)
Copyright: 2008 Trinidad Express
Contact:  http://www.trinidadexpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1093
Author: Richard Charan

GANJA PILE-UP AT POLICE STATIONS

The storage rooms at police stations across the country  are stuffed
to the roof with marijuana because for the  past six years, none have
been destroyed, says  Opposition Chief Whip Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.

At the end of each drug case, the narcotics would be  ordered to be
destroyed in Chaguaramas, an exercise  done twice to four times yearly.

The pile up, he said, was causing confusion with the  tracking of
exhibits, and resulting in cases against  drug accused being dismissed.

Police in the Southern and South Western Divisions told  the Express
that there were problems with the disposal  of drug exhibits, and that
accurate property room  record-keeping was being compromised.

Maharaj said such mismanagement proved that State could  not win the
war against criminals and gangs.

He made the point during a meeting with residents of  Tabaquite at the
Brothers Road Community Centre  yesterday.

He also knocked government for allegedly negotiating  with the
criminal gangs, and warned of the activities  of more than 2,000
deportees returned to Trinidad  without being electronically monitored
as in the United  States.

Maharaj said there will be a town meeting on Thursday  involving
police at Forres Park and resident of the  surrounding communities are
asked to attend to give  their suggestions to solve crime.

Last Friday, Maharaj and other UNC-A leaders met the  Commissioner of
Police to discuss crime issues.
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