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According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), sixteen (16) Venezuelan nationals, including two (2) minors, were found during an intelligence-led anti-crime exercise conducted by Officers of the Western Division under Operation R.E.S.O.L.U.T.E. Shield. A total of three (3) persons were arrested, including two (2) Venezuelan women. The TTPS said the exercise took place between 7:00 PM on Friday (30th October, 2026) and 12:15 AM on Saturday (31st October, 2026), in the Cunupia Police District, following information received about a possible kidnapping originating from Venezuela and minors allegedly being kept at a particular location. Acting on the information, Officers proceeded to a two-storey, 14-apartment building along Ramdeen Drive, Endeavour Link Up Road, Cunupia, where they conducted a search of Apartment #7. During the search, Officers found sixteen (16) Venezuelan nationals, including the reported victim and another minor. Two (2) Venezuelan women, aged twenty (20)...

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), a male suspect, described by investigators as the “mastermind” behind two (2) reports of robbery with violence against TT RideShare (TTRS) drivers, has been arrested and is to be charged in connection with the incidents. Reports indicate that a 25-year-old victim was driving his Toyota Yaris around 7:45 PM on 10th June, 2026, when he received a request via the TTRS app for a location drop-off in the Laventille area. The victim proceeded to 8th Avenue, Barataria, where he picked up a man and proceeded to Laventille Road. There, he allegedly observed a man walking along the roadway armed with a gun. He further alleged that the passenger in the vehicle attempted to strangle him, causing his vehicle to collide with another. The victim claims he was blindfolded, tied up and taken to a house, where he was beaten by six (6) assailants before they left in his vehicle. He managed to free himself and sought the assistance of persons fro...

Reports state that a missing man was found alive in Rio Claro this morning (Friday 4th September, 2026) after he was last seen several days ago, on 30th August, 2026. The man alleges that he was being held against his will and was not fed. He has been identified as 31-year-old Samson Mahadeo of Rio Claro. Mahadeo was found by members of the Hunters Search and Rescue Team (HSRT), led by Captain Vallence Rambharat, in the Rio Claro district at 8:00 AM this morning. According to the HSRT, “He said he was being held against his will and was not fed. Our teammates Vishnu Ramdial, Vinod and Celine Ramnath ensured that he ate and then took him to the Rio Claro Police Station. We thank our teammates who launched a search for him at 6:00 AM this morning in the Rio Claro area. GOD IS GREAT.” Investigations are continuing into Mahadeo’s kidnapping claim and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. More on this as it becomes available.

Shahnaaz Ali, the 31-year-old woman who was found in Mayaro the day after she failed to return home from work in Port-of-Spain , has told Police that she was kidnapped, drugged and tortured before being left abandoned near a beach in Mayaro. Ali was found wandering along Gran Lagoon Beach, Mayaro, around 7:00 AM on Saturday (4th July, 2026), after reportedly escaping from her captors. According to Ali, she had parked her vehicle in Port-of-Spain on Friday (3rd July, 2026) and was walking to a nearby business, when she was approached by a man of Spanish descent. She alleged that the man showed her a photograph of her family’s home on his cellphone and warned her not to scream or raise an alarm. She told investigators that a white panel van then pulled alongside them, and she was forced inside by two (2) men. Ali alleged that her hands and feet were bound before she was forced to drink a liquid from a bottle, causing her to lose consciousness. She said her hijab was removed and used to r...

UPDATE (06/07/26): Shahnaaz Ali has told Police that she was kidnapped, drugged and tortured before being left abandoned near a beach in Mayaro. Police have since launched an investigation into the alleged kidnapping as enquiries continue. A woman who was reported missing after failing to return home from work on Friday (3rd July, 2026) has been safely located and taken for medical treatment. She has been identified as 31-year-old Shahnaaz Ali of  #28 Benjamin Street, Diego Martin. According to reports, Ali was reported missing after leaving her new job at a company located along Victoria Avenue, Port-of-Spain, on Friday. She had reportedly only begun working at the company approximately a week earlier, as an Administrative Assistant. Her black-and-white Toyota Yaris Cross (PEK 8148) was also missing. Ali is said to have previously reported receiving threats from a former partner, with the matter having been brought to the attention of both Police and an Attorney before her disa...

A suspended Police Constable of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has been arrested in connection with allegations of kidnapping and sexual offences against a 20-year-old female victim. In a Media Release on Sunday (28th June, 2026), the TTPS said reports indicate that on 3rd June, 2026, the victim was allegedly forcibly removed from a vehicle by a man who identified himself as a Police Officer, displaying what appeared to be a TTPS Identification Badge. The victim alleges that she was then taken to an unknown location where she was sexually assaulted. A report was made to the Chaguanas Police Station and an investigation launched into the matter. The TTPS said a ,male suspect, a 39-year-old Officer who is currently under suspension, was arrested in connection with the incident, under the authority of a 7-day Detention Order, on 20th June, 2026. The suspect is expected to be charged with the offences of grievous sexual assault, attempted grievous sexual assault, serious ind...

Pictured Above: Rafael Fabio Bermudez, 37. The Hunters Search and Rescue Team (HSRT) is seeking the public’s assistance to find a missing 37-year-old Venezuelan national who was allegedly kidnapped. In a social media post on Thursday (25th June, 2026), the HSRT said Rafael Fabio Bermudez of La Romaine was last seen on 2nd June, 2026. A ransom has been reportedly paid but his abductors have not released him. According to reports, Bermudez was last seen walking along Dumfries Road, La Romaine, around 5:00 AM on 2nd June, 2026. Following his disappearance, relatives in Venezuela were contacted and instructed to pay a ransom of US $300. Family members confirmed that they spoke with Bermudez before the money transfer was made, raising hopes that he was still alive.  However, despite the ransom payment being made, there has been no further contact from his kidnappers, and his whereabouts remain unknown. Have you seen him? Anyone with information on Bermudez’s whereabouts can contact the ...

A man was allegedly abducted by armed suspects in the Waterloo, Carapichaima area, late Friday night (12th June, 2026). The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Albert George Navarro Arcia. His kidnappers are demanding a US $10,000 ransom for his release. According to reports, Arcia, was lured to a meeting in the Waterloo, Carapichaima area to conduct a business transaction involving the sale of cheese. He arrived at the location with an 18-year-old companion in a Nissan B13 motor vehicle, shortly before 11:00 PM. However, the pair were allegedly confronted by an unknown number of suspects.  The assailants forcibly took Arcia and placed him into a waiting vehicle before speeding away. His companion managed to escape unharmed. The teenager ran off and made his way to the Chaguanas Police Station, where he reported the incident.  Sometime later, Arcia’s sister received a WhatsApp message demanding US $10,000 for his return. Police have since initiated a kidnapping-for-...

A 30-year-old Charlieville man is scheduled to appear before the South District Masters’ Court after investigations revealed that a reported kidnapping was fabricated, resulting in significant Police resources being deployed unnecessarily. According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), during an operation conducted between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM on Thursday (4th June, 2026), Officers of the Central Division arrested Daoud Mohammed, 30, of Assaraf Road, Charlieville, Chaguanas, for the offence of wasteful employment of the Police. Acting on intelligence, Officers conducted surveillance at a location along Assaraf Road, where Mohammed was arrested pursuant to a warrant issued in connection with the offence. Investigations stemmed from a report made on 9th May, 2025, when a man who resides in the United States, received a WhatsApp call informing him that his brother had been kidnapped and was being held captive. The caller demanded a ransom of $60,000, along with drugs and fire...

Officers of the North Eastern Division (NED) rescued a woman from a vehicle in the La Fillette district, and arrested a male suspect, following a report of kidnapping, which occurred on Monday (1st June, 2026). According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), reports indicate that a female victim was at her Diego Martin home, around 7:05 PM, when a man known to her came to the house and asked to speak with her. When she refused, he allegedly grabbed her, resulting in a struggle. During the altercation, the victim alleges she observed what appeared to be a firearm tucked into his waistband.  The victim managed to push the man out of the house and closed the door, but he re-entered through an unsecured kitchen window and proceeded to search her bedroom for her cellular phone. The man located the phone and took it to his vehicle. However, when the victim attempted to retrieve the phone, the man allegedly pulled her into the vehicle and drove off with her against her will....

Officers attached to the San Fernando Police Station are investigating a serious incident involving allegations of sexual assault, robbery, false imprisonment, and assault. The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) said the alleged victim, a 38-year-old woman from Malgretoute Road, Princes Town, reported that she was unlawfully detained and assaulted by a 54-year-old male resident of Princess Margaret Street, San Fernando. According to the victim, the incidents began on Friday 27th February, 2026, when she visited the suspect’s residence to collect money owed. She alleges that the suspect prevented her from leaving and unlawfully took personal property, including cash and identification documents. The victim further reported that between 1st March and 6th May, 2026, she was subjected to sexual assault by the suspect. On Wednesday 6th May, 2026, Police Officers on mobile patrol observed the victim in distress on a roadway in San Fernando and subsequently arrested the 54-year-old sus...

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...