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UPDATE (14/04/26):  Vice President of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society, Edward Moodie, and social media activist and head of Trio.TT, Vicky Rampersad , are said to have been instrumental and relentless in their efforts to rescue Sabita Basdeo from her captors. The suspect, identified by Rampersad as “Fareeda Balgobin,” and her teenage son remain in Police custody as of today (Tuesday 14th April, 2026), while investigations continue into the alleged abuse and false imprisonment of Basdeo, spanning at least seven (7) years in captivity. During that time, the victim was unlawfully kept away from her husband and children, enduring allegations of unpaid forced labour, physical and sexual torture and abuse. EDITOR’S NOTE 2: The headline and body of this article have been updated with new details, including numerous, well-documented reports that the victim was held in captivity for seven (7) years — not seven (7) months. EDITOR’S NOTE: While several media outlets said the vic...

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is urging landlords in Trinidad and Tobago to consider risk management, legal compliance and proper screening when leasing their property. This follows the kidnapping of an elderly female landlord from her home in San Juan on Wednesday night (25th March, 2026), by one of her tenants and his accomplices. The woman was thankfully rescued several hours later from a vessel at sea during a co-ordinated intelligence-led operation. The TTPS notes that, “A strong vetting process upfront (especially Certificate of Character and Immigration checks) will save you serious stress, legal costs and property damage later.” Follow these safety tips when leasing property: Conduct background checks on potential tenants. Require every adult tenant to provide a recent Certificate of Character and two (2) valid forms of ID. Use a properly drafted written lease agreement. Have a local attorney review or draft it to match Trinidad and Tobago's laws. Screen ...

A 73-year-old kidnapping victim was successfully rescued late last night (Wednesday 25th March, 2026), following a co-ordinated intelligence-led operation which resulted in the interception of a vessel and the arrest of eight (8) individuals. The victim has been identified as 73-year-old landlord Tara Poliah, who was abducted by a Venezuelan tenant and several accomplices from her home along Don Miguel Road in San Juan, shortly after 7:00 PM. Poliah’s kidnapping was captured on CCTV footage, which also showed her abductors bundling her into a white Nissan AD wagon (PEA 3592), before fleeing the scene in a Northerly direction. She was rescued from a vessel at sea several hours later.   According to the footage, one of the Venezuelan suspects, who was renting an apartment from the victim, appeared to have lured her outside, as she is heard asking if he was leaving and enquiring about the rent. However, as Poliah‘s back was turned, two (2) other men emerged from the apartment, one arm...

UPDATE (06/01/26):  A suspect has been detained by Police in connection with the murder of kidnapped Fire Officer Bruce Lezama. The suspect, who lives a short distance away, was one of the men involved in a previous home invasion at Lezama’s home and was recognized at the time by the victim. It is alleged that the same suspect was also identified on CCTV footage as one of the men who bundled Lezama into his vehicle at his Arima residence. An autopsy has since revealed that Lezama died after being beaten and strangled by his abductors. UPDATE (30/12/25): Tragically, Lezama's body is believed to have been found this morning (Tuesday 30th December, 2025), based on his clothing, off the Blanchisseuse Road in Arima, a few miles from where he lived. Police and other responders visited the scene and are conducting investigations. The body was removed by Fire Officers and taken to the Forensic Science Centre, pending a positive identification by relatives. Police are currently investiga...

UPDATE (08/01/26):  Clarabelle Tardieu has been released by her kidnappers after more than a month in captivity, following her abduction from Monos Island. She was picked up early this morning (Thursday 8th January, 2026) along the North Coast of Trinidad and later taken to the Northern Division. She was subsequently transported to receive medical treatment and then reunited with relatives shortly after. Senior Police Officials have confirmed that a ransom was paid for Clarabelle’s release but declined further comment. Clarabelle and her husband, Derrick Tardieu, were kidnapped by armed men from their Monos Island home on 6th December, 2025. Her husband was released on 17th December, 2025, after a ransom was allegedly paid. UPDATE (07/01/26):  Clarabelle Tardieu remains missing as of today (Wednesday 7th January, 2026). There have been no major breakthroughs since Tardieu’s release in mid-December, although multiple investigative units remain actively involved in the case. Ef...

A 17-year-old girl has been left traumatized after she was abducted for over seven (7) hours and sexually assaulted by a PH taxi driver, while waiting for her transport to school on Friday morning (21st November, 2025). According to reports, the victim and her mother reported the horrific incident to the Las Lomas Police Station, around 7:25 PM on Friday night. The mother said when she arrived home from work, around 6:20 PM, her daughter relayed what transpired and they both made their way to the Police Station.   The teen said around 5:50 AM, she was standing at the corner of Solomon Drive, Chin Chin Road, Cunupia, awaiting her school transport, when a man of African descent, who she does not know, approached her, stuck a knife at her waist and told her, “So hear what happening, doh move, if yuh move I would kill yuh.”  The suspect then pushed her towards a blue car that was parked nearby and pushed her into the backseat. He then engaged the child lock before driving off....

UPDATE (16/11/25): According to reports, one of the kidnapped fishermen, Daniel Abraham, returned home last night (Saturday 15th November, 2025), after his family reportedly paid a portion of the ransom demanded by the kidnappers. The fate of the other fishermen remains unknown at this time. While Abraham is now back in Trinidad, the remaining men are believed to still be held in Venezuela by the kidnappers. Three (3) fishermen from Erin have been reportedly kidnapped for ransom in Venezuela. Reports state the alleged abductors made contact with relatives of the fishermen earlier this week, claiming the men were taken shortly after arriving in Venezuela by fishing boat. Relatives say the captors are demanding more than US $100,000 for their release. However, Erin fisherman Winton Taitt said US $18,000 was later demanded instead. Details surrounding the incident remain unclear. Their disappearance comes at a time when United States forces have launched a  series of airstrikes on s...

UPDATE (11/11/25): Three (3) men, including a Police Officer, are in custody, assisting investigators with the kidnapping and brutal murder of Vishnu Lalla. The Police Officer was last assigned to the Chaguanas Police Station and then transferred to the Longdenville Police Post. Police sources say the Officer had not showed up for duty for the last two (2) weeks.   Neighbours remain in shock, describing Lalla as a kind, quiet man who did not deserve such an end. Three men, including a police officer, are now in custody assisting investigators with the kidnapping and brutal murder of Couva farmer Vishnu Lalla. The retiree was reported missing on Saturday night and was found dead just a day later. Neighbours remain in shock, describing… pic.twitter.com/L3u7E5mLWI — CNC3TV (@CNC3TV) November 11, 2025   The body of a missing man was found in a bushy area at Brechin Castle, Couva, on Sunday night (9th November, 2025). The deceased has been identified as 63-year-old farmer, Vish...

UPDATE (29/09/25): Reports state that Maharaj was found alive at the Piarco Touch Down Hotel in St. Helena this evening (Monday 29th September, 2025). No further details are available at this time. Another massive search has been launched for 41-year-old  Komal Maharaj of Felicity, Chaguanas, who was last seen on Friday afternoon (26th September, 2025). Maharaj, who also went missing last year , is described as being of East Indian descent, fair-skinned, slim-built, 184 cm tall, weighing approximately 175 lbs, with long hair and clean-shaven. According to reports, Maharaj, a school teacher and father of two (2) girls, was last seen leaving his home and walking toward the nearby savannah, around 1:31 PM on Friday afternoon. CCTV footage captured him wearing long blue jeans, a black long-sleeve sweater with a zipper, and sunglasses. His wife told Police that she last spoke to him that Friday morning before she left for work. Maharaj, who was scheduled to teach music at the Ara...

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is confirming that earlier today (Sunday 7th September, 2025), a multi-agency tactical operation led to the successful rescue of kidnapped Caribbean Airlines pilot, Captain Daniel Kawall , in the Maraval district. According to the TTPS, the operation was executed through the co-ordinated efforts of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU), Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), Special Intelligence Unit (SIU), Port-of-Spain Task Force, Western Division Task Force, and the Air Support Unit. The TTPS notes that Officers encountered armed resistance during the intervention, resulting in one (1) suspect being injured in the confrontation. He was transported to a medical facility, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Reports state the deceased suspect is 33-year-old Raheem Felix, who celebrated his birthday on Thursday (4th September, 2025). Captain Kawall was immediately taken for medical examination and is currently receiving care, following which he ...

UPDATE: Reports state the suspect who was killed during the rescue operation is 33-year-old Raheem Felix, who celebrated his birthday on Thursday (4th September, 2025). The Hunters Search and Rescue Team (HSRT), led by Captain Vallence Rambharat, announced a short while ago today (Sunday 7th September, 2025) that missing Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) pilot, Daniel Kawall, was rescued by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) in the Maraval district. Commissioner of Police, Allister Guevarro, also confirmed Kawall’s rescue while speaking with reporters following the successful operation.  Intelligence led Police to a hideout in Maraval, where the daring rescue took place under heavy gunfire. Kawall was safely extracted by Officers around 11:00 AM this morning at Upper Third Avenue, off Saddle Road, Maraval, during which a suspect was killed. Three (3) other suspects involved in Kawall’s kidnapping were arrested early this morning, around 3:00 AM, near the Queen’s Park...

UPDATE (11/02/25):   Rampersad's relatives have reportedly positively identified his body at the Forensic Sciences Centre on Monday (10th February, 2025).   An autopsy is expected to be conducted later this week to determine the exact cause of death. The body of a man was discovered buried in a shallow grave in St. James on Saturday afternoon (8th February, 2025) by Crime Watch host, Ian Alleyne. While unconfirmed, based on information received by Alleyne, he believes the body is that of 36-year-old kidnapped businessman, Shashi Anand Rampersad. Rampersad  was abducted at Pierre Trace in Enterprise, Chaguanas, on 21st November, 2024, where he went to deliver a load of gravel. A ransom of $110,000 was allegedly paid by relatives to his kidnappers, after $500,000 was demanded. This is the second time the remains of Rampersad is believed to have been found in St. James. On 28th January, 2025, Police ventured to a forested area off Riverville Trace to search for Rampersad‘s r...

According to reports, the body of kidnapped businessman, 36-year-old Shashi Anand Rampersad, was found earlier today (Tuesday 28th January, 2025) in a forested area at Riverville Trace off Dibe Road in Long Circular, St. James. Rampersad, of Lange Park, Chaguanas, was  abducted at Pierre Trace, Enterprise, Chaguanas , since 21st November, 2024, where he went to deliver a load of gravel. A combined team of Police Officers, including those from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Homicide Bureau of Investigations (HBI), acting on information provided to them by individuals involved in the kidnapping and subsequent murder of Rampersad, embarked on an exercise early this morning in St. James, where they later found his remains in the forest. It is alleged a ransom of $500,000 was demanded — of which $110,000 was dropped off at the side of Lloyd Street, San Juan, on 5th December, 2024. However, Rampersad’s kidnappers still murdered him. There was prior communication between his relatives a...

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a cease-fire deal today (Wednesday 15th January, 2025) that will also serve to ensure the release of hostages. The conflict began with Hamas’ brutal attacks on 7th October, 2023, and has left over 1,200 Israelis dead, more than 250 taken hostage, including seven (7) Americans, and thousands of others killed on both sides. President-elect Donald Trump, who threatened last week that if a deal was not struck before his Inauguration Day (Monday 20th January, 2025), “all hell will break loose in the Middle East,” quickly offered his praise following news of the cease-fire deal, saying on Truth Social: “This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies. I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and lov...