Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams has reportedly sent head of the Special Branch, Snr Supt Gary Gould, on immediate pre-retirement leave.
This is the latest in the saga surrounding the discovery in 2013 of marijuana at the Phillipine residence of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
According to a TV6 report last night, Williams gave the instructions to send home Gould with immediate effect although he is scheduled to retire next month.
When news of the find first broke, Williams had reported that Gould had indicated to him that he was unaware of any find. However, Gould subsequently produced a report confirming the find and Williams had to retract his statement and confirm the find.
Williams has ordered a probe into the matter, noting that it was not brought to a conclusion. He also expressed concern that he was kept in the dark on the matter and that Special Branch may have corresponded only with then deputy commissioner Mervyn Richardson on the matter.
ACP Ainsley Garrick has been given responsibility for the latest probe and has been given a month to complete it.
Former national security minister Jack Warner has claimed he took part in a discussion in 2013 with other senior politicians and a senior police officer to ensure there was no criminal probe into the matter.