By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News
Regional Crime & Security
Senior police officers say the arrest of several Trinidadian men and a Venezuelan national at sea is being viewed as a major breakthrough in the fight against crime. The group was allegedly en route to collect a shipment of guns and illegal drugs destined for Trinidad.
Intelligence officials confirmed the authenticity of a video circulating on social media showing at least five Trinidadian nationals arrested by Venezuelan security forces aboard a vessel intercepted in international waters. The incident, which occurred around August 13 or 14, is being linked to broader transnational criminal networks currently under scrutiny.
Local authorities said the group was part of a wider operation involving narcotics and firearms trafficking. The arrests are directly tied to a larger criminal syndicate that remains under active surveillance.
Haiti Declares State of Emergency
Meanwhile, Haiti’s government has declared a three-month state of emergency across the west and central departments as gang violence intensifies, devastating the nation’s agricultural heartland.
The move follows the appointment of a new interim police chief, Vladimir Paris, who will work alongside a UN-backed multinational mission to restore security. Officials said the measure will help address both insecurity and the deepening food crisis.
The United Nations reports that from October 2024 to June 2025, more than 1,000 people were killed, over 200 injured, and 620 kidnapped. Gang violence has also displaced more than 239,000 people, particularly in Haiti’s central region, known as the country’s rice basket.
Barbados Rejects Warrantless Wiretapping
And in Barbados, Prime Minister Mia Mottley has assured citizens that her government will not permit warrantless wiretapping under new crime-fighting legislation.
Speaking in a national address, Mottley said a controversial clause in the Interception of Communications Bill—one that would have allowed certain communications to be intercepted without a judge’s warrant—will be removed before the bill reaches the Senate.
She stressed: “This is not a free-for-all and this is not a minister’s toy. Only the Chief Justice or a judge specifically assigned by him can authorize an interception.”
The bill is part of a broader crime-fighting package that also includes amendments to laws on firearms, police powers, and criminal proceedings, all aimed at tackling organized crime, illegal guns, and criminal networks.
