TTPS reports major enforcement gains under State of Emergency as detention orders executed rise to 170

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) says it has reached what it describes as a “significant operational milestone” on the 45th day of the current State of Emergency (SoE), reporting that 170 of 258 detention orders issued have been executed to date.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Suzette Martin said the figures already exceed those recorded at the end of the previous State of Emergency, when 205 detention orders were approved and 153 executed.

The nationwide SoE was declared on March 2, 2026, by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in response to a spike in violent criminal activity, which authorities say has largely been driven by organised criminal gangs.

This marks the second major emergency period in recent months. A prior State of Emergency was declared in December 2024 following an outbreak of gang-related violence. Overall, Trinidad and Tobago has been under emergency measures for roughly 10 of the past 14 months, with the opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) arguing that the government has not succeeded in bringing violent crime under control despite the measures.

In her update, Martin said that alongside the execution of detention orders, the TTPS has carried out 3,694 operations, resulting in 1,588 arrests and 355 charges.

Authorities also reported the recovery of 90 firearms, seizure of 2,196 rounds of ammunition, 3,146 kilograms of cocaine, and 337.040 kilograms of marijuana.

“These figures 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,” Martin said.

She added that the TTPS is “strategically targeting individuals and groups who pose the greatest threat to the safety and stability of our communities” and doing so “with precision and purpose.”

However, Martin cautioned that the effort is entering a critical phase, stating that consistency, execution, and accountability will determine the overall impact of the State of Emergency.

She reaffirmed that operations would continue with intensity and discipline, saying: “We will not relent. We will not ease the pressure. We will continue to deliver results in the interest of national security.”

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro told business leaders that fear, rather than crime itself, is increasingly affecting economic confidence and public sentiment.

Speaking to the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, he said the national conversation around crime is often distorted despite what he described as measurable improvements in official statistics.

“Economic stability and public confidence are more interconnected than ever,” Guevarro said, adding that “fear is not just a feeling, it is a force that shapes behaviour.”

He noted that 370 murders were recorded last year, which he said was the second-lowest annual figure in nearly two decades. He also highlighted a 42 per cent reduction in homicides, calling it “the second largest annual percentage reduction in the world,” behind only El Salvador.

According to the Commissioner, serious reported crimes fell from 3,413 in 2025 to 2,397 in the comparable period, a 30 per cent decrease.

“These are not opinions or political talking points. These statistics tell a different story,” he said, adding that public perception remains heavily influenced by fear, which he suggested is amplified by certain narratives.

He questioned whether some of those narratives are driven by self-interest, asking whether they benefit from ongoing concern about crime or from a safer national environment.

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