TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO | Police Commissioner Harewood-Christopher, Best released without charge

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, February 2, 2025 - Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher was released from custody without charge yesterday after a two-day interrogation regarding the importation of two high-powered sniper rifles for the Strategic Services Agency (SSA).

The release came at 5:48 p.m. when Harewood-Christopher left the St Clair Police Station, dressed in a black jacket over a yellow and black dress. Her attorney, Senior Counsel Pamela Elder, called the detention "outrageous" and indicated further legal action may follow.

Former SSA Director Major Roger Best

During her detention, Harewood-Christopher faced questioning from a team led by Deputy Commissioner Suzette Martin, with the interviews continuing late into the night. The Commissioner was accompanied throughout by her legal team, headed by Terry Boyer.

This marks Best's second encounter with weapons-related charges. In May 2024, he and three others were accused of illegally transferring prohibited weapons from the disbanded Special Operations Response Team to the SSA.

While charges were filed against his co-accused, Best avoided prosecution after consultations between police and Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard.

The current investigation into the sniper rifles, weapons typically restricted to specialized military and law enforcement operations, represents a significant crisis for Trinidad and Tobago's security apparatus.

The case has raised questions about oversight and accountability within the nation's highest security institutions, particularly regarding the procurement of military-grade weapons.

The situation has become more complex given earlier allegations of a potential government overthrow plot, raising further concerns about national security operations.

With both the current Police Commissioner and former intelligence chief now linked to weapons-related investigations, the country's security infrastructure faces a severe challenge to its credibility.

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