Mary Ali, 67, of Juteram Street, Sangre Grande, who was reportedly kidnapped earlier this week, was rescued by Officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) early this morning (Saturday 26th September 2020). The woman, who appeared to be severely dehydrated, was taken to seek medical treatment at the Sangre Grande Hospital.

The rescue comes following several joint intelligence-led exercises by Officers of the AKU and the Sangre Grande Criminal Investigations Department (CID) over the past forty-eight (48) hours.

The victim was found along a road at Smart Village, Manzanilla, by Cpl (Ag) Castillo and PC Jack of the AKU, and WPC John and PC Diaz of the Sangre Grande CID around 6:20am on Saturday.

The case is currently being investigated by Sgt Harper. The TTPS is thanking members of the public for their assistance in locating the missing woman.

Commissioner of Police, Gary Griffith, announced the launch of a widespread investigation at the highest level on Wednesday 23rd September 2020 to determine who decided to return more than $22 Million in cash which was seized from a house at Kathleen Warner Drive, Phase I, La Horquetta, on Tuesday.

The money was seized by Officers of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) who executed a search warrant at a house where it was alleged that persons were operating a Pyramid Scheme, under the alleged name “Drugs Sou-Sou” (DSS). The money was later kept at a Police Station. Commissioner Griffith said preliminary investigations showed that the money was handed back to the operator of the Scheme on Wednesday without his knowledge and those of his Deputy Commissioners.

A Media Release issued by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) on Wednesday noted that Commissioner Griffith found it “very suspicious that $22 Million in cash was seized and within hours, that money was checked and a decision made to give it back without the input of the Financial Intelligence Bureau (FIB) of the TTPS.” Investigators completed the count of the money at 12:30am early Wednesday morning. The Commissioner said the investigation would determine if any criminal or disciplinary action is to be taken against any Police Officers.

Commissioner Griffith also said the money was handed back without a proper investigation to determine whether any of it was counterfeit. He said no proper investigation was done as to the source of these funds, or whether the person or persons involved had committed any criminal acts. As part of this investigation, he further said that external forensic personnel will be brought in to determine if any of the money was counterfeit.

The Media Release also noted that the Commissioner is aware that there is a concern that a number of persons invested their hard-earned money, hoping to cash in on this alleged Pyramid Scheme. He gave the assurance that once these persons can prove that their money was legitimate, the TTPS will ensure that their money is returned to them in the shortest possible time.

​Diligent inquiries are being pursued at this time.

Mary Ali was snatched from the car park of Cost Cutters Supermarket on George Street in Sangre Grande shortly before 8am this morning (Wednesday 23rd September 2020). Police have launched a manhunt for a group of three (3) people who reportedly carried out the brazen kidnapping. The victim is the mother of the owner of Cost Cutters Supermarket, Anil Ali.

According to Police reports, the kidnappers bundled her into a grey Mitsubishi Lancer which sped off in the direction of Coalmine. Investigators confirmed that no demand for a ransom has yet been made by the kidnappers.

Members of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT), the Eastern Division Task Force, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Cyber Crime Unit are involved in the case.

Investigations are continuing.

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Eight-month-old Sophia Rivas was found by Police in Curepe last night (Tuesday 15th September 2020) after a ransom of TT $20,000 was demanded by her kidnappers. The baby girl was reported missing by her mother, Valentina Hernandez, yesterday morning.

The child’s mother, a Venezuelan National, reported to Police that around 9:10am yesterday morning, she was at her Longdenville Old Road, Longdenville, Chaguanas home with her daughter, when the child was taken by a woman without her permission.

Sometime later, she received a telephone call from the suspect demanding TT $20,000 in cash for the safe release of her daughter.

Acting on intelligence, an exercise, spearheaded by Snr. Supt. (Ag.) Curtis Simon was conducted around 10:50pm last night and included Officers of the Central Division Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Operations Unit, Chaguanas CID, Couva CID, Central Division Gang Unit, the Central Division Task Force, the Longdenville Police Post, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU), the Special Investigations Unit, the Cybercrime Unit, and the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service.

During the exercise, the Officers proceeded to Mc Inroy Street, Curepe, where they found and clinically extracted the baby in a safe manner.

​A 19-year-old woman of California, Central Trinidad, and another suspect, who were found in the company with the victim at the time, were arrested in connection with the incident.

DCP (Ag) Investigations and Intelligence, Mc Donald Jacob, said the success of the exercise was as a result of co-operation among the various internal and external law enforcement agencies.

He also stated that the breakthrough was possible due to the efforts being made by the Commissioner of Police, Gary Griffith, to synergize and streamline the work of all local law enforcement agencies.

Investigations are continuing.

This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.

A Police Officer has been detained in connection with the abduction, beating, stabbing and rape of an 18-year-old Venezuelan girl. She was also robbed of an undisclosed sum of money. The Officer was held on Wednesday morning (12th August 2020) in Port-of-Spain.

New information indicates that the PH taxi the young woman was traveling in belongs to the Police Officer. When the victim entered the taxi, there were three (3) men present, including the driver. She was stabbed several times in the neck while on her way to San Fernando to sell empanadas and was left for dead in some bushes. As the car approached La Romaine, one of the two (2) male passengers covered her face and tied her up. The driver then went to an isolated area off the road and she was assaulted and thrown out of the car.

After managing to crawl out to the side of the road, she was seen by a passing driver. She had bruises to her arms and legs and was bleeding from the stab wounds to her neck. She was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital, where she had emergency surgery on Tuesday. She is said to be in stable condition at this time.

​This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.

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UPDATE (12/08/20): A Police Officer and a Security Guard have both been arrested in connection with this brutal crime. The hunt is still on for a third suspect.

UPDATE: New information suggests the girl actually hailed the PH taxi in Fyzabad, not Siparia as initially reported below. She also apparently lives in Fyzabad.

Police are on the hunt for three (3) men who violated an 18-year-old Venezuelan girl. She was raped, stabbed and left for dead on the M2 Ring Road on Tuesday (11th August 2020). The girl works as a vendor and lives in Siparia. She hailed a PH taxi in Siparia and was on her way to San Fernando to sell empanadas when she was attacked by the men in the taxi. They later dumped her on the gravel road and sped off.

Police are reviewing CCTV footage which captured part of the incident in order to assist in their search for the three (3) men.

Reports indicate another PH taxi was proceeding along the M2 Ring Road in Debe around 1:40pm on Tuesday, when the driver saw a woman lying on the ground. He stopped his car and contacted the Police and Ambulance. The woman was covered with blood as she had apparently been stabbed on her hand, chest, and face. She was barely conscious when Police arrived and she was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital.

Anyone with information which can lead to the identification of the three (3) suspects is asked to contact the Police, or they can give the information by calling 555 or 800-TIPS, texting 482-GARY, or utilising the TTPS App.

This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.