PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad & Tobago – A major international drug bust has led to the seizure of over $254 million worth of cocaine, discovered aboard a shipping vessel that had traveled from Guyana to Trinidad, with its illicit cargo destined for St. Martin.
The intelligence-driven operation, executed in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Port of Spain Office, U.S. Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF South), the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG), and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), resulted in the interception of 182.24 kilograms of cocaine concealed in a deeply sealed compartment within the vessel.
According to DCP Intelligence and Investigations, Suzette Martin, the TTPS intelligence unit initially received credible information that a vessel transporting narcotics was posing as a legitimate cargo carrier. The vessel arrived in Trinidad on February 25, 2025, and law enforcement agencies immediately placed it under round-the-clock surveillance.
On March 11, 2025, officers observed the vessel being loaded with various shipments. Though the activity appeared routine, authorities remained vigilant. While the ship had been cleared for departure to St. Martin, its crew unexpectedly changed their departure time, setting sail in the early hours of March 12.
This sudden schedule change heightened suspicions, prompting TTCG officials to intercept the vessel in open waters and escort it to Staubles Bay. There, TTPS deployed specialized resources, including a canine unit, to conduct a thorough search.
A two-day intensive search led to the discovery of a hidden, expertly concealed compartment, where 157 packets of cocaine were stashed. The total weight of the narcotics amounted to 182.24 kilograms, with an estimated street value of TTD $254,027,980.80.
Five crew members aboard the vessel were arrested in connection with the trafficking attempt, and investigations are ongoing as law enforcement seeks to dismantle the criminal network behind the operation.
Commissioner of Police Ag Junior Benjamin lauded the officers and agencies involved, emphasizing the significance of intelligence sharing and inter-agency cooperation in disrupting transnational organized crime.
“This seizure not only disrupts the illicit operations of organized crime but also sends a strong message of our unwavering commitment to national security and combatting transnational organized crime,” Benjamin stated. “Our law enforcement teams remain resolute in their efforts to safeguard our nation and dismantle criminal networks that threaten our communities.”
This massive drug seizure highlights the growing concerns over the use of shipping routes from Guyana and the Caribbean for narcotics trafficking, as authorities continue to strengthen surveillance and crack down on criminal syndicates operating across the region.
