Trinidad And Tobago Coast Guard Intercepts Suspected Drug Trafficking Vessel

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG), at approximately 7:27 PM last night (Sunday 26th July, 2026), whilst conducting searches for an overturned vessel on the South Coast of Trinidad, a Coast Guard patrol boat observed a pirogue proceeding from Venezuela to the South Coast of Trinidad. 

In a Media Release today (Monday 27th July, 2026), the Coast Guard said the patrol boat was able to intercept the pirogue and discovered 252 packets of a green, plant-like substance onboard. Once the pirogue was secured, it was handed over to Officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), along with its contents and its two (2) occupants.

The Coast Guard said it “remains committed to safeguarding the nation’s maritime borders and working with partner agencies to combat transnational crime and protect the security of the country’s maritime domain.”

Reports state that a pirogue carrying Venezuelan nationals left Venezuela and entered Trinidad and Tobago waters on Friday (24th July, 2026), before encountering difficulties and sinking off the South-Western peninsula. An occupant reportedly survived after swimming ashore at Icacos during the early hours of Saturday morning (25th July, 2026). However, the survivor reportedly left the area shortly after informing residents about the tragedy, out of fear of arrest by local authorities.

Two (2) other occupants of the pirogue, identified as Julio López and Nikol Landaeta, reportedly attempted to stay afloat in the waters by clinging to a gas cylinder after the vessel sank.

Unfortunately, López’s body later washed ashore at Icacos on Saturday afternoon (25th July, 2026). Landaeta remains missing as of this afternoon (Monday 27th July, 2026), with search and recovery efforts continuing.

The tragedy on Saturday comes only days after another migrant pirogue sank off Los Iros, claiming the lives of Edwin Parra and 6-year-old Brithanny Linneth Yanett León Palacios

Rescue officials later confirmed they were the only two (2) fatalities before calling off that search.

Investigations are continuing.

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