Caption: Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Operations Junior Benjamin 

By Alicia Chamely

HOMICIDES have dropped by 41% and violent crimes by 22% as compared to the same period last year.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday at the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) Administration Building, Port of Spain, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Operations Junior Benjamin provided an update on the police operations under the State of Emergency (SOE) and the marked reduction in crime.

Regarding the SoE, he said the TTPS had executed 4,055 operations, targeted 1,514 high-priority offenders, conducted 656 searches, made 1,775 arrests, seized 118 illegal firearms and 1,477 assorted ammunition.

Regarding illegal drugs, Benjamin said the TTPS had seized seven kilograms of cocaine, just under 227.7 kilograms of cannabis, 13 cannabis plants and 30 seedlings.

Benjamin said, “It is an ongoing process, but when we look at our crime statistics, we are seeing that the work of the police is paying off.”

Addressing crime, Benjamin said there had been a 41% drop in homicides, noting that at this time last year there were over 440 murders compared to 260 murders for the same period this year.

Benjamin said violent crimes had dropped by 22%, going from 3201 in 2024 to 2512 in 2025.

He said additionally, the TTPS had been exceeding the targets set for the year.

Benjamin said there was a 15% reduction in serious reported crimes, exceeding the set goal of a 10% reduction.

Vehicular larceny, he said, had dropped by 34%, surpassing their goal of a 20% reduction.

Commenting on these successes, he said, “We have been hitting some tremendous targets this year.”

Benjamin said, “That is coming out of the hard work of our officers, it shows the strategic direction of our Commissioner of Police and the strategies that we are implementing that are working for us as we continue to fight.”