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10 hours ago

MINISTER OF National Security Fitzgerald Hinds has confirmed that seven people arrested for various offenses, including some under the Anti-Gang Act, were detained based on evidence gathered from videos recorded and posted on social media by a YouTuber.

Hinds called TV6 to respond to a news segment in which criminologist Randy Seepersad admonished authorities after he claimed nothing had been done about videos posted by Canadian YouTuber Christopher “Chris Must List” Hughes showing men brandishing guns and some admitting to gang membership.

Hinds said one of these videos resulted in someone being charged with sedition, and other videos were analyzed and used for their evidentiary value. He then referred to an earlier report of the arrest of seven people in the northeast of the country.

Hinds said: “I can tell you from the information available to me that they too were made in connection with these films.

“I am also aware that the investigation into these videos continues. In fact, the police are very confident that they have provided enormous evidentiary value and, as I said, matters are under investigation and cases are being taken to court.”

Hinds added: “It is not that law enforcement did not take action on these videos. Actively obtaining evidence from them is already well underway and, in fact, some cases are already being charged and going to court.”

Ahead of the minister’s speech, Newsday called ASP Richard Smith following reports that the videos were the subject of an investigation that led to the arrest of several people.

However, Smith did not confirm or deny whether there was a connection between the arrests and the videos. Smith said 24 people were arrested, but did not say exactly how many people were detained for gang activity.

“I can say that we conducted an exercise last night (June 11) during which 24 people were arrested for various offenses and investigations are ongoing. Some of the arrests may have been gang-related, but people were arrested for other crimes such as robberies and shootings.”

He said the arrests were the result of a number of investigations and he could not confirm whether any of the people arrested were associated with or appeared in any of Hughes’ videos.

“I can’t say because I’ve only seen these movies for a while. “At this stage I cannot confirm or deny whether any of the people arrested appear in any of these videos.”

Hughes: The subjects knew they were going to be on YouTube

Contacted by Newsday, Hughes expressed surprise when asked if he was aware that people who may have appeared in his YouTube videos may have been arrested for gang activity. However, he said that every person featured in his videos knew he was filming their actions.

“When they talk on camera, they are conscious,” he said. “I always encourage people who come on camera to wear a mask, but it’s up to them. These people decide for themselves what to do. I don’t encourage anything.

“Everyone is aware of what I do. And that’s why I was allowed into the community.

“It’s not like I have a hidden camera under my shirt. I take out my camera. And people who watch my videos knew perfectly well that I was recording and that the content would be posted on YouTube.”

He maintained his previous claims that he had no links with the police and once again denied reports that he went on a trip with officers to point out areas where he was filming.

Hughes, who at the time was preparing to go to court to face sedition charges, also took no responsibility for the arrests.

“It wasn’t because of my video that they were arrested. It’s because of the activities they took part in,” he said.

“I didn’t beg or anything. Nothing was a secret. As adults, they all knew what they were getting into when they decided on a certain lifestyle.”

He added that while security had always been a concern when he traveled to another country, this was the first time he had encountered a situation where his videos were the subject of police investigations.

“They can blame mom, dad (or) they can blame me,” he said. “I played no role in their arrest.

“Maybe the criminal activity they’re involved in might have something to do with it, but I mean, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. And it is up to the judicial system to determine whether he is guilty of a crime or not. It’s not true. it depends on me.”

Hughes was arrested on May 29 after a three-week stay in Trinidad and Tobago, where he filmed various aspects of local culture and lifestyle, including gang culture.

Hughes’ recording equipment, computers and phones were also seized and he was later charged with sedition.

Hughes told Newsday that he uploaded 24 fully edited videos about Trinidadian and Tobago life to YouTube, and some of them went viral.