Significant quantities of cannabis, firearms, ammunition and cash were seized during a drug trafficking operation aimed at dismantling what is being described as a sophisticated and highly organised drug network, being run by a male suspect in the Claxton Bay district.
During the period Tuesday 18th March, 2025 and Thursday 20th March, 2025, officers of a specialist unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, assisted by personnel of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) and the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF), were engaged in an intelligence-led operation, coordinated by DCP Intelligence and Investigations Suzette Martin.
This operation was launched based on vital intelligence that indicated the suspect, a known drug trafficker from the Claxton Bay district, had recently imported a significant quantity of narcotics from South America.
The intelligence further suggested that these illicit substances had been concealed within the dense mangrove forest at the rear of the suspect’s residence.
The inter-agency efforts subsequently resulted in the seizure of a quantity of high-grade Colombian marijuana, an assault rifle, four magazines, one pistol loaded with a magazine and fitted with a selector and 404 rounds of 5.56 ammunition, which were concealed within a dense mangrove forest area at the rear of the suspect’s residence. A quantity of cash totalling TT$60,000 was also found hidden in the ceiling of the residence.
This sum was subsequently handed over to the Financial Investigations Bureau (FIB) for further forfeiture inquiries.
The operation uncovered that the suspect had constructed a man-made inlet connecting his property to the Gulf of Paria. This inlet, coupled with the presence of several vessels and engines observed in the vicinity, provided clear evidence of his involvement in a well-established drug trafficking operation.
Five vessels allegedly belonging to the suspect were conveyed to Staubles Bay pending inquires.
The complex and challenging environment of the mangrove, characterised by its thick vegetation and difficult accessibility, made the operation particularly arduous. However, the expertise of the riverine units of the TTCG and TTPS, enabled the teams to effectively navigate the inlets and conduct thorough searches.
The TTPS wishes to advise that this operation remains active in an effort to locate and seize all the narcotics that are believed to be concealed in the area.
The coordinated approach of the participating agencies has been critical to the operation’s success thus far. With further investigative efforts underway as the search remains ongoing, it should be noted the magnitude of this drug trafficking operation is significant, not only due to the scale of narcotics involved, but also because of the sophistication of the operational setup.
Commenting on the operation and the seizures, Acting Commissioner of Police, Junior Benjamin said, “The use of man-made inlets and concealed vessels points to a highly organized network, which the TTPS and its partners are determined to dismantle. Given the ongoing nature of this investigation, all assets and resources are being committed to locating the narcotics, apprehending those involved, and bringing the perpetrators to justice.”
He also commended the hard work and synergies displayed by all the agencies involved in the ongoing operation.