Officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service conducted a successful joint exercise, where over 168 kilogrammes of cocaine, worth over $234 million was seized during a multi-agency intelligence-led operation on Thursday 18th May 2023, in Chaguaramas.
While working closely with foreign partners, an intelligence unit of the TTPS received information in March 2023, that a large shipment of cocaine was headed to the United States of America.
The TTPS gathered further intelligence, which led to an operation being conducted by our intelligence and tactical units. During the operation, the team observed a black Suzuki SUV, with three occupants entering the carpark of a hotel in the Chaguaramas area at approximately 1:20 pm.
The strike team then received information that the vehicle was allegedly carrying a large quantity of cocaine. The officers immediately intercepted the suspects and upon searching the vehicle they discovered a large quantity of cocaine, weighing approximately 168 kilogrammes, and a Glock pistol on the ground of the vehicle, at the driver’s feet.
The cocaine has a street value of $234,457,344.
The three persons have been arrested and enquiries are continuing at this time.
Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher said
“We have worked closely with our regional and international partners and our joint efforts resulted in what can be described as the largest land seizure of cocaine ever in Trinidad and Tobago. We will continue to partner with our law enforcement counterparts in the United States to wage a forceful and relentless war on the regional drug trafficking networks and those who profit from the illegal drug trade.”