The Police Service is reporting that the aerial delivery of prohibited items into the Arouca Maximum Security Prison was successfully prevented, thanks to a “coordinated, intelligence-led operation between 7:00 pm on Sunday and 5:45 am today.”
The exercise was directed by Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Suzette Martin, ASP Stanley, and Senior Superintendent of Prisons Lee Davis. It involved officers from the Special Investigative Unit, Multi Operational Police Section, Crime Scene Unit, Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Specialist Units, Fusion Centre, and other intelligence entities.
The TTPS reports that during the operation, three suspects were arrested approximately 50 metres from the prison wall.
Authorities seized a substantial amount of contraband including narcotics, cigarettes, drone equipment, and communication devices. Searches inside the prison also uncovered illicit items across multiple cells.
In addition, police conducted a search of a known offender’s premises under Section 12 of the Emergency Powers Regulations 2025 and impounded a vehicle believed to be linked to the smuggling attempt.
Commissioner Guevarro praised the officers for their “exceptional coordination, discipline, and tactical precision”, noting the operation disrupted a sophisticated smuggling attempt.
“The prison continues to be a major point of concern for law enforcement, as organised gangs and their leadership networks struggle to adapt to the dynamic precision of our intelligence-driven policing strategies,” he said.
Acting Commissioner of Prisons Hayden Forde expressed his gratitude, describing the operation as “a tangible representation of the strength and resolve we possess when we unify our national security resources.”
He added that the arrests and seizures send a clear message that the illicit trade threatening the safety of correctional facilities will not be tolerated.
The TTPS said investigations remain ongoing, and further updates will be provided.
