Caption: The seizure in Caroni. Photo: TTPS

 

THE Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) announced a breakthrough in border security with the first major success from its newly installed radar system: the seizure of a large quantity of narcotics in the Caroni Swamp.

The radar system, recently commissioned to bolster national security, proved instrumental in guiding the operation, a release stated. Details about the technology and operational aspects are being kept confidential. Triggered by intelligence, a coordinated response was led by Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro, along with Deputy Commissioners Natasha George and Suzette Martin.

Accroding to a release by the TTPS on Thursday, specialised units—including the Multi-Option Police Section (MOPS) from the Special Branch, the Coastal and Air Support Unit (CASU), the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), and other intelligence wings—were mobilised for the mission.

Using intelligence, officers conducted an overnight trek into the mangroves of the Caroni Swamp, where they recovered the hidden cargo. The seized vessel was moved to Heliport at Chaguaramas on December 11, 2025, for processing by the SIU and the Contractual/CSI teams.

Police said the narcotics amounted to 1,560 kilograms of “creepy marijuana,” with an estimated street value of $171,205,320.

No arrests were reported in connection with the operation.

Commissioner Guevarro praised the radar system’s effectiveness and the coordinated efforts of all units involved, reaffirming the TTPS’s resolve to protect Trinidad and Tobago from the scourge of illegal drugs.

The radar has been installed in Tobago by the US military.