A 20-year-old man is expected to be slapped with gun charges after being arrested during an anti-crime exercise in Diego Martin overnight.

Officers were on patrol along Bridge Road where they observed the suspect holding a high-powered rifle.

Upon spotting police, the man allegedly took off running but was held a short distance away with an AR-15 rifle loaded with a magazine containing 25 rounds of 5.56 ammunition.

The exercise, conducted between 6 pm and 9 pm on Tuesday, was sanctioned by ACP Maharaj, coordinated by Snr. Supt. Henry and ASP Gyan and spearheaded by Insp. Grant and Sgt. Carmona.