National Security Minister Stuart Young yesterday sent a stern warning to criminal bosses who run their empires by orchestrating contract killings from behind the prison walls with their associates on the outside.
He made the comment at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference, as he referred to an incident in which an alleged “hitman” on his way to execute a prison officer in east Trinidad on Wednesday night was intercepted by Special Operations Response Team (SORT) officers.
“I want to send a strong signal to anyone, including those in the prison system, because there are a number of criminals in the prison system, who for too long, have been allowed to operate behind the bars of prisons as though they can continue to run their criminal empires on the outside and they could continue to communicate with the persons on the outside and send threats not only to prisons officers but also to law-abiding citizens. If they are thinking they can threaten persons, it is not going to be tolerated,” Young warned.
Young had echoed similar rhetoric in October last year following the killing of Acting Superintendent of Prisons Wayne Jackman, who was shot dead outside his Malabar home. Two suspects were arrested but subsequently released.
Yesterday, Young said several intelligence-driven operations, through the inter-agency effort of the Police and Prisons Services and Defence Force, will continue as they attempt to stamp out these planned attacks on prisons officers and other law enforcement officers.
“As we pick up this information it will be actioned. There is the will from the Minister of National Security, go down to all of the heads, that we are not going to tolerate the criminal element wreaking fear and havoc with our citizens and those who choose to serve Trinidad and Tobago. We will continue to do our work and continue to be vigilant,” Young said.
Young’s warning came just 48 hours after the SORT had issued a confidential report which outlined a plot to kill five prisons officers following an order by a criminal boss in jail.
Less than 24 hours after the SORT report, the unit intercepted a “hitman” on his way to allegedly kill a First Division prison officer in east Trinidad on Wednesday night
Senior sources close to the operation told Guardian Media that they got a tip-off that the “hitman” was on his way to assassinate the prison officer and intercepted him in a stolen vehicle near Oropune Gardens, Piarco. The suspect, who is also wanted for a recent murder in central Trinidad, was on his way to pick up another accomplice and firearms before heading to the prison officer’s home.
Following the initial report of the hit on the officers, Young had issued a release stating that the necessary action will be taken against those planning such attacks.
“Anyone found threatening any officer in any of the services under national security will be dealt with by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service as appropriate. Such actions will not be tolerated and any perpetrators will face the full brunt of the law,” Young had said, noting he would contact Acting Commissioner of Prisons Dane Clarke and Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith about the troubling SORT report.
Young also said they will continue to support prisons officers as they perform their duties.
“We are standing by you, we are standing with you and standing in front of you. You have our full support.”
Most recent attacks on prisons officers
October 2, 2018: Superintendent of Prisons Wayne Jackson, 50, is ambushed by a gunman as he arrived at his home in Malabar, Arima. Jackson, who was assigned to the Maximum Security Prison (MSP) in Arouca, was shot several times and died on the scene.
October 5, 2018: The Tacarigua home of prison officer Khalil Baksh firebombed. The attack caused damage to the property but Baksh and his relatives escaped unscathed.
October 17, 2018: Prison officer Darren Francis, 38, shot and killed in front of his home at Sixth Company, New Grant. Francis worked on Rise Maximum Radio, a station operated by prisoners and prison officers at the MSP.