PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Apr 17, CMC -The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) says it has reached a “significant operational milestone” on the 45th day of an existing state of emergency (SoE), noting that it has executed 170 of the 258 detention orders issued to date.
“These figures have already surpassed those recorded at the conclusion of the previous State of Emergency, which stood at 205 approved and 153 executed,” said the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of operations, Suzette Martin.
On March 2nd, 2026, the Trinidad and Tobago government declared a nationwide SoE due to a spike in violent criminal activity, mainly carried out by members of organised criminal gangs.
A state of emergency was first declared in December 2024, following an outburst of gang violence. Trinidad and Tobago has been under a state of emergency for about 10 of the last 14 months and in recent times, the main opposition People’s Nationnal Movement (PNM) has said position that, despite the SoE, the Kamla Persad-Bissessar government has failed to bring violent crime under control.
In her statement, Martin said that in addition to executing the detention orders, the police have conducted 3,694 operations, arrested 1,588 persons, charged 355 persons as well as recovering 90 firearms, seizing 2,196 rounds of ammunition, 3,146 kilograms of cocaine and 337.040 kilograms of marijuana.
“These outcomes are not incidental. They are the result of deliberate, intelligence-led policing, coordinated national operations, and a sustained focus on priority offenders and organised criminal networks.
“For the public, the message is clear: the TTPS is strategically targeting individuals and groups who pose the greatest threat to the safety and stability of our communities, and we are doing so with precision and purpose,” Martin said.
But she noted this, however, is not a point of conclusion, adding “we are now entering a critical phase of the State of Emergency, where consistency, effective execution, and accountability will determine the overall impact of our efforts”.
The senior police officer said that the TTPS remains fully committed to disrupting criminal enterprises, removing high-risk offenders from communities, restoring and maintaining public safety and order.
“Let me be clear, operations will continue with intensity, discipline, and zero tolerance for criminal activity. We will not relent. We will not ease the pressure. We will continue to deliver results in the interest of national security,” DCP Martin said.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner, Allister Guevarro, has told businesss leaders here that he believes fear, more than crime itself, is becoming one of the most damaging forces affecting the local economy and public confidence.
He told the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce that the discussion e around crime is being distorted, despite data showing measurable improvements.
“Economic stability and public confidence are more interconnected than ever,” he said, noting that “fear is not just a feeling, it is a force that shapes behaviour, it influences national decision-making long before a single crime occurs”.
The top cop said that TTPS statistics show that last year 370 murders were committed, the second-lowest annual figure in nearly two decades.
“The records from 2008 to 2026 show that the second-lowest homicide figure during that entire period was 2025. Yet, no matter what you do with regard to crime, there will be criticism,” he said, highlighting also a 42 per cent reduction in homicides, describing it as “the second largest annual percentage reduction in the world”, behind only El Salvador.
According to the Commissioner, serious reported crimes have also declined significantly from 3,413 in 2025 to 2,397 for the same comparative period, representing a 30 per cent decline.
“These are not opinions or political talking points. These statistics tell a different story,” he said, noting that public perception remains gripped by fear, which he argued is being amplified by certain interests.
“Fear has become a kind of currency amplified and galvanised by those who profit from insecurity and those who build their platforms on negativity,” he said, questioning whether some narratives are driven by self-interest.
“Is it because their business model depends on crime? Is it because a safer country threatens your influence, your narrative or your revenue streams?”
CMC/lk/ir/2026