Black Immigrant Daily News

El Negociado de la Policía junto al U.S. Marshals Service capturaron en la noche del jueves a Delwin Berríos Navarro, alias Tuntún, el líder de una organización criminal responsable de múltiples asesinatos en el área este de la Isla, que se encontraba prófugo de la justicia.  Dicha organización estaba integrada principalmente por gatilleros, cuyas funciones consistían en asesinar a sus rivales. 

Los efectivos de la División de Arrestos e Inteligencia de la Uniformada y los agentes federales arrestaron a Berríos, de 28 años, a eso de las 7:00 de la noche en un operativo efectuado en el barrio Quebrada Arenas, en San Lorenzo.  Al momento de la intervención este se encontraba con su compañera, Claribel Vélez Hernández, de 18 años, y se le ocupó una pistola alterada, tres cargadores y 56 municiones. Cerca del área se encontró otra pistola, 32 municiones y dos cargadores. 

Contra Berríos pesaba una orden de arresto, con una fianza de $4 millones, por asesinato y violaciones a la Ley de Armas, radicados por el Departamento de Justicia.  A cuatro miembros del grupo, considerados gatilleros, les fueron presentados cargos previamente y tres de estos, fueron apresados el 31 de mayo por diversos delitos cometidos en Yabucoa, San Lorenzo y Humacao. Estos están en espera de juicio o vista preliminar. Mientras, que la Policía continúa en la búsqueda del último de los imputados, Edwin Yamil Berrios Navarro, alias Coco, quien es hermano de TunTún.  

“Con este arresto impactamos a una pandilla sumamente peligrosa con un largo historial de violencia. Según nuestro trabajo de inteligencia, con la capturado de Berríos Navarro se logró prevenir la muerte de otras personas. Gracias al trabajo en equipo entre la Policía, el Departamento de Justicia y el US Marshal demás agencias de ley y orden, logramos sacarlos de nuestras calles”, manifestó el comisionado de la Policía, Antonio López Figueroa. 

“El Departamento de Justicia ha tomado la lucha contra el crimen organizado como prioridad. Hemos utilizado todos los recursos disponibles para procesar criminalmente a los miembros de este grupo y lograr la convicción de todos ellos, con el fin de acabar con sus actividades ilícitas”, dijo el secretario de Justicia, Domingo Emanuelli.  

“A todas las familias afectadas por estos criminales, en nombre del Servicio de Alguaciles federales les expresamos nuestra solidaridad en este proceso, que ninguna familia debería atravesar. Este logro forma parte de las estrategias coordinadas con la Policía de Puerto Rico, llamada Stop Gun Violence, la cual va dirigida a la captura de criminales violentos. Las comunidades de Yabucoa y pueblos limítrofes estarán más seguras con estos criminales fuera de sus calles”, declaró Wilmer Ocasio Ibarra, U.S. Marshal para el Distrito de Puerto Rico. 

“Agradecemos a nuestros compañeros del Negociado de la Policía de Puerto Rico, así como a los alguaciles federales, por el buen trabajo en equipo que realizó para lograr el arresto de Delwin Berríos Navarro, conocido como “Tuntún”, el líder de la famosa narcoganga.  Nuestros oficiales se arriesgan todos los días con el compromiso de salvar vidas y proteger propiedades”, afirmó el secretario del Departamento de Seguridad Pública (DSP), Alexis Torres.  

A la organización de Berríos, se le atribuye el asesinato de Luis Ángel Ortiz Castro (El Marcao’), de 27 años. Ortiz iba a ser el principal testigo de cargo contra Berríos, por cargos de intento de asesinato y uso ilegal de un arma de fuego en su contra. Los hechos ocurrieron el 14 de septiembre de 2021. Berríos se entregó a las autoridades el 29 de marzo de 2022, pero el caso en su contra fue desestimado por el Tribunal, debido a la ejecución de Ortiz, el pasado 30 de abril, mientras se encontraba en un vehículo de motor, en el sector Playita de Yabucoa. Gisela Denise Vázquez Andino, quien le acompañaba, resultó con heridas de bala. 

 Además de este homicidio, las autoridades vinculan a la pandilla de Berríos con varios asesinatos perpetrados en la zona este de la isla. Entre estos, figura la muerte a tiros de Juan R. Aponte Figueroa (Tijera), de 23 años, en la parte posterior de la cancha bajo techo de las parcelas Martorell, en Yabucoa, el 3 de julio de 2021, mientras se efectuaba una transmisión en vivo de un juego de baloncesto, que causó impacto en las redes sociales. Los hechos fueron vinculados a la guerra por el control de los puntos de drogas en Yabucoa y pueblos aledaños.

Una investigación conjunta entre Justicia y la Policía, concluyó con la radicación de 58 cargos contra Berríos y otros miembros de la organización criminal, por múltiples asesinatos en primer grado y portación y uso ilegal de armas largas automáticas o semi automáticas, entre otras violaciones de ley. 

Los fiscales adscritos a la región de Humacao presentaron las acusaciones contra Elizaul Lazú Abreu (Eli), Julio A. Gómez Umpierre (Yuyo), José Antonio Lozada Ramos y Edwin Yamil Berríos Navarro (Coco), hermano de Delwin Berrios. Los primeros tres fueron arrestados por la Policía el 31 de mayo en el barrio Daguao, en Naguabo, gracias a confidencias recibidas de ciudadanos, pero Berríos y su hermano permanecieron fugitivos. 

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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Claxton Bay Fishing Association president Nicholson Seecharan speaks with media on Friday at the Claxton Bay fishing facility about the death of fisherman Lennox Joefield whose body was found at sea on Thursday evening. – Marvin Hamilton

A pirate attack at sea between Wednesday night and Thursday has left a fisherman dead, and his colleagues and friends are calling on the authorities to beef up security measures.

Lennox “Knox” Joefield’s body was fished out of the Gulf of Paria near Marabella on Thursday night and brought ashore at the Claxton Bay fishing depot, where he had lived for the past few years.

Claxton Bay Fishing association president Necolson Seecharan believed that Joefield, who was in his 50s, was attacked and thrown overboard.

Joefield left the depot on Wednesday night to go fishing. Fishermen were told the boat had been spotted in San Fernando with the engine, worth over $20,000, and net missing.

Fisherman Sean Johnson reacts to the death of his fishing partner Lennox Joefield at the Claxton Bay Fishing Facility on Friday. – Marvin Hamilton

Fishermen began searching for Joefield, and at around 5 pm, they found his body tangled in a net near Paria Trading Jetty.

Seecharan said Joefield was originally from Piparo, lived in Marabella for a few years, relocated to Claxton Bay, and slept at the depot.

On Friday, fisherman Sean Johnson wept at the depot, saying he had lost his best friend.

“We went San Fernando Boys’ RC together. He did not have a bad bone in his body. He would give his last to anyone. I feel as if part of me is gone. He was a true friend.

“They (pirates) touched everyone in Claxton Bay. They bring tears to everyone.”

Carli Bay Fishing Association president Imtiaz Khan, as well as corporate secretary of the NGO Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) Gary Aboud, joined fishermen at the depot and complained about the lack of protection at sea.

Fisherman Sean Johnson speaks to Newsday about the death of his fishing partner Lennox Joefield at the Claxton Bay Fishing Facility on Friday. – Marvin Hamilton

Aboud proposed that the Government set up a multi-stakeholder committee/a national security oceanic committee to address the fishermen’s woes.

That committee, he said, should include the Fisheries Division, the Coast Guard, the police, the regiment, the Ministry of National Security, and “perhaps the permanent secretary.”

Speaking on behalf of the disgruntled fishermen, Aboud said, “We are asking the Government to consider that we should be appointed honorary wardens. We should have some direct link to the senior members of national security. Wardens could report illegality, risks, hotspots, and smuggling areas.”

He said piracy is growing, and the Gulf of Paria is a hotspot. For that reason, stakeholders should increase their presence compared to other areas.

“That committee could dictate and direct the use of resources, the concerns of threats on the sea and could have a direct mechanism for reporting the reports of the honorary security wardens,” Aboud said.

“We have advised that our fishermen should arm themselves, I am told to say legally armed. A spear gun is a legal weapon. “

He believes fishermen need to be prepared and ready to flee any vessel approaching within 300 metres, and coming within such proximity should be considered an act of violation.

He made several allegations against the Prime Minister, government ministers, and the Venezuelan military, saying he had proof to back his claims.

Investigations are ongoing.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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If you visit Guanapo, you’ll see water pouring from numerous leaks in the potholed road. Residents say some have been flowing for years.

But communities served by the Guanapo water treatment plant struggle with an inconsistent supply. Areas affected include Guanapo, Maturita and Pinto.

Mt Zion resident Stacy-Ann Gonzales said water comes on Friday and Sunday, but “by 9 am it comes, but by 12 it’s gone.”

Though they are scheduled to receive water three times weekly, that is rarely the case. Residents often have to buy truckborne water. When water comes, Gonzales said, the pressure is often too low and it is discoloured.

Patricia Castillo from Sesame Street, Pinto Road said, “WASA overdoing it, in the sense that it should come Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, but it comes at 6, but by 2 o’clock they take it back.”

She said the supply should be 12 hours, between 6 am and 6 pm, but when WASA cuts it off early, “it doesn’t even have chance to full up the tanks.”

To bathe and flush toilets, residents rely on water stored in barrels.

Castillo, who has lived there for 40-odd years, said, “We used to get water every day. I only in the past few years they start doing this nonsense.”

Carlene Ramkisoon has led residents of her Sesame Street community to seek redress for their water woes. Since July 10, she has been in regular contact with Shaira Ali, operations manager at WASA.

Ramkisson said Ali promised to investigate and address their concerns, but is yet to do so.

She said the community is seeking fair compensation.

“When it is our scheduled days, a lot of the times it had rainfall or the pump has an issue.

“Water is supposed to be shared at least half of the following day, but WASA does not even update the community.”

“If you say we’re on a schedule, live up to the schedule – 6 am to 6pm.”

Newsday spoke to Roxanne Samuel, Mesha Ramlogan and Soogrim at La Retreat Road, Extension in Guanapo, a short way from theMemisa centre.

Soogrim said, “Two months now I suffering for water.” He said a leak in the road higher up had been flowing for about ten years, but it stopped two months ago, as another one began pouring.

Soogrim said he gets water once a week.

He and the others said WASA trucks drive on Guanapo Road every day, the drivers see the leaks and continue with business as usual.

WASA corporate communications and the operations manager could not be reached for comment up until press time.

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