The well-orchestrated kidnapping of Jamaican businessman Yohan Chin is believed to be linked to the narcotic empires of slain Central businessman Sheldon Sukhdeo and another businessman in South Trinidad who sells luxury vehicles.
Some of these vehicles are believed to have been used to bring cocaine into T&T from Venezuela.
Sukhdeo, who was kidnapped and then found dead in Las Lomas last January, was the brother of slain Central car dealer Sheron Sukhdeo, known in the criminal underworld as World Boss. Sheron was killed on March 26 last year and following his murder over a dozen people were marked for death, forcing residents to live under a self-imposed curfew.
Sukhdeo’s wife Rachael went into hiding with her children. Her brother Phillip Bassant was later killed, along with close friend Joshua Plaza and her driver and confidante Kerwin Beckles, all within the space of six weeks.
Chin is still missing and police sources said yesterday they were now pursuing information that the kidnapping was orchestrated by the drug kingpins who are posing as legitimate luxury car dealers.
Guardian Media’s Lead Editor of Investigations Mark Bassant, in an exclusive report yesterday, revealed that Venezuelan law enforcement had seized a TT$40 million cocaine shipment they believed was being transported to T&T on Wednesday. The cocaine was being transported in luxury vehicles which had secret compartments.
A source who requested anonymity said it was possible that Chin was set up by the drug lords posing as car dealers, who are now demanding US$6 million ransom in return for his safety.
The source said shortly after Chin moved into Aileen Avenue, Block Four, Palmiste, his business partner also moved into another apartment on the same street.
Chin owned a luxury Porche Panamera which he purchased for over $1 million from the south businessman, whose father was also kidnapped a few years ago.
A police source confirmed that after Chin was kidnapped, a demand was made for his Porche Panamera, his partner’s black Mercedes Benz S55 and a piece of land at Boy Cato Road, Chin Chin, to be sold and US$6 million paid in exchange for his life.
Chin’s business partner, who is assisting police with investigations, reported the kidnapping on Tuesday, two days after Chin was kidnapped around 5 am by armed men dressed in police uniform. On Tuesday night, police raided Chin’s house and seized some items in a bid to find his whereabouts.
The business partner, in a statement to police, said he received a call from Chin on Sunday saying armed men wearing TTPS uniforms had kidnapped him. Chin told him the kidnappers wanted money and he would call back with instructions.
The business partner was instructed to go to Chin’s home four houses away and move his Porche Panamera for safe keeping. Chin also advised him to organise $400,000 and not involve the police. The Mercedez Benz S55 is worth more than a million.
ASP Parriman, Sgt Williams and officers from the Anti-kidnapping Squad are continuing investigations.
