It is being reported that police officials have stepped up security around head of the Traffic Division, Senior Superintendent Radcliffe Lewis, following threats made on his life. Some Police sources say they believe the threats came as a result of a series of intensified operations by the police to clamp down on illegal taxi operators in the Corporate Area. SSP Lewis yesterday said members of his team seized a total of 41 vehicles during a clampdown against illegal route taxis. Police said two persons who had warrants out for breaches of the Road Traffic Act were arrested and 13 license plates were removed from several of the vehicles during the operation.

Lewis also said that over the past two weeks police have stepped up their drive to go after rogue taxi operators. He warned that the operations would be intensify especially against taxi operators who ply the Half-Way-Tree to Papine route.

The clampdown came following reports that the taxi operators have begun to hike their fares.

"This was the final straw that broke the camel's back as these operators, not only are they operating illegally, but the move to increase the fares was illegal," said Lewis.

The Police said, students of the University of the West Indies and University of Technology as well as other commuters who usually pay $80 per trip were forced to pay $100 and in some cases, even $150.