WHILE deputy political leader of the Opposition United National Congress (UNC), Jack Warner, is formalising plans to use Soca Warriors footballers to initiate a gun amnesty programme in crime-ridden areas, a high-level intelligence report has pin-pointed operatives associated with the Opposition as being behind the flow and distribution of guns in the country.

According to the report, which emanated from Caracas, Venezuela, a high-ranking member from the Guardian of Islam (GOI), an elite faction of a local militant Muslim group, visited the Mainland recently in search of a reliable contact to import handguns and military boots.

The GOI high-ranker, who had spent two years studying guerrilla warfare, terrorism and Islam in Sudan, is at present on Hajj in Mecca.

He was accompanied by a business partner, who runs an eating establishment in Enterprise, Chaguanas.

Meanwhile, TnT Mirror was informed by underground sources that a major distribution of handguns took place in Port of Spain, Fyza-bad and an unnamed area in East Trinidad last Thursday.

Incidentally, last Thursday the Bonaire North area had been placed under a serious military lockdown shortly after dusk following what some residents described as a shooting incident that targeted the Blimp, which was hovering very low in the area.

It was believed that Thursday’s gun distribution had the backing of certain individuals aligned to the Oppo-sition, who have been kept under close surveillance.

The ease with which the guns were brought into the country without detection suggests that State officials might also be involved.

It is believed that the intention behind the distribution of the guns is to accelerate the crime rate at all cost.

Intelligence agents expect that underground destabilising efforts will pick up steam when the big criminal dons come back from Hajj.

Underground sources have also confirmed that the major kidnapping gangs, including those controlled by rogue cops, have forged a close working alliance.

Kidnap kingpins believe that the recently passed anti-kidnap laws will have no effect on their activities because the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Judiciary do not have the capability to get them to trial within the stipulated 60 days time-frame, after which the legislation guarantees them bail without condition.

FIFA vice-president Warner, who is also special advisor to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF), said last week that the Soca Warriors footballers were willing to play their part by reaching out and pleading with gang members to give up their guns.

National Security Minister Martin Joseph stated he welcomed the initiative announced by Warner aimed at reducing the incidence of illegal guns, especially in East Port of Spain and environs.

Meanwhile, intelligence agents in Caracas have also picked up information that there is a major move in Port of Spain to discredit Vernon Paul, also known as Preacher, who allegedly has vital informa-tion with respect to the planting of cocaine and a missile in the water tank of Opposition Senator Sadiq Baksh on the eve of the 2002 general election.

The act, allegedly commissioned by certain government officials, is still under investigations by the police.

Paul, who is said to have tremendous influence in Venezuela and enjoys an opulent lifestyle there, has wiggled his way to become cosy with President Hugo Chavez, who is seen as a threat to the region by Washington.

That is one of the reasons offered by Uncle Sam, who is believed has inveigled Prime Minister Patrick Manning to secure helicopter gunships from Israel

However, international observers are of the opinion that Washington’s real deal with incoming Caricom chairman Manning, may well be for him to lobby leaders in the region to support Israel’s return to the UN Security Council.

Observers have speculated that US President George W. Bush had brokered a deal with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for Israel’s withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza Strip (which were hesitantly returned to the Palestinians last year), in exchange for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Speaking with reporters at the new Caricom Headquarters at Liliendaal, Guyana on Tuesday, chairman Manning said regional security and the drug trade were two of the main issues that must be dealt with.

He also addressed the Petrocaribe oil deal with Venezuela by threatening that if the deal fell through, he would not guarantee countries could resume buying oil from Trinidad again.