Police in Trinidad seize cocaine hidden in hair products

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Police in Trinidad say they have seized cocaine worth an estimated TT$4.5 million after uncovering the operations of a sophisticated drug trafficking network based in the south of the country.

In a statement, the police said that the intelligence-led operation also led to the arrest of a key suspect.

“Intelligence gathering is the cornerstone of effective policing. It allows us to anticipate and disrupt criminal activities before they can inflict harm on our communities. The success of this operation underscores how critical intelligence is in our fight against crime,” said Police Commissioner, Erla Harewood-Christopher.

The police said that the operation stemmed from credible intelligence developed by the TTPS in 2023.

“This network allegedly imported illegal narcotics from South America, concealed them within legitimate cargo, and exported them to various international destinations using local courier services,” the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) said in the statement.

It said following multiple arrests and significant seizures over the past year, the TTPS intelligence unit recently received information about an impending narcotics shipment and that acting on this intelligence, officers identified a vehicle linked to the drug trafficking network on Tuesday.

The statement said that the vehicle was intercepted along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway on the outskirts of the capital, near the Grand Bazaar shopping centre, and that upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered the drugs.

“The officers seized a total of 3.25 kilogrammes of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $4,530,240. The driver…was arrested,” the statement said, adding that he is assisting the investigations.

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