Caption: Guns and ammunition seized by Trinidad and Tobago police is a raid last year. Photo: TTPS
By Prior Beharry
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – IN a move to bolster border security, Interpol Washington, with the support of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), has used technology and software solutions in Trinidad and Tobago to identify transnational criminals, stolen documents and vehicles.
This initiative aims to aid law enforcement in identifying and intercepting transnational criminals and terrorists travelling through T&T.
Following Barbados, T&T has now become the second CARICOM nation to implement these border security enhancements. This development marks a crucial step in ensuring the safety and security of the Caribbean region.
Keith Hood, the lead for Project Terminus at Interpol Washington, noted the importance of international collaboration in strengthening border security.
He said, “This tremendous milestone underscores the vital importance of international partnerships in enhancing border security.”
Hood said. “By working together with Trinidad and Tobago, we are fortifying not only their borders but also the security of the entire Caribbean region and beyond. Collaborative efforts like these are essential in our global fight against crime and terrorism.”
As part of Project Terminus, the Interpol Washington team has installed two custom software solutions: the Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) Workbench and the Stolen Motor Vehicles (SMV) Workbench.
These systems, developed by Interpol Washington, enable Trinidad and Tobago to efficiently share, manage, and extend crucial document and vehicle information with 195 other Interpol member nations.
The newly deployed applications include 11,000 test records and 243 live records that have already been successfully uploaded to the Interpol SLTD database. The SLTD Workbench solution has also facilitated the extension of 100 expiring records, enhancing the day-to-day operations of the Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) in Trinidad and Tobago.
Lt. Col. Michael Jones, Executive Director of CARICOM IMPACS, highlighted the regional impact of this initiative.
He said, “Crime and criminality is an issue that affects everyone in the region. It is for this reason that collaboration among agencies is important to combat the effects of crime and terrorism that are plaguing our Member States. CARICOM IMPACS is pleased to partner with and support Project Terminus as we work together to reduce and eliminate the impact of this scourge.”
The project was made possible through funding from the U.S. Department of State Counter Terrorism Bureau and close coordination with NCB Trinidad and Tobago.
Project Terminus, a collaborative effort between Interpol Washington and the U.S. Department of State, aims to enhance Interpol screening and record submission by member countries. By providing state-of-the-art computer hardware and custom software solutions, the project seeks to streamline service adoption and maximise data usability and effectiveness.
