Trinidad Police arrest suspect in plot to assassinate two defence attorneys

A man described as the right-hand associate of one of the detainees currently being held at a Defence Force base in Chaguaramas, Trinidad, has been arrested with a sophisticated weapon allegedly intended for the assassination of two defence attorneys.

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The dramatic revelation was made by Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro, who confirmed the development in a voice recording sent to Guardian Media on Sunday. The arrest came just hours after the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) warned the two attorneys that their lives were in danger.

“I can also confirm for you, based on your question, that intelligence indicated specific threats against two defence attorneys,” Guevarro said. “In fact, and I want you to listen very carefully, one of the individuals allegedly tasked with executing this threat against their own attorneys, who is fighting so hard to get them sent back to the MSP, is the right-hand man of one of the clients who they’re fighting to get out. I can confirm to you that he, that right-hand man of their client, is now in custody.”

The arrest adds a new layer to ongoing concerns about the security risks posed by high-profile detainees being held at military facilities following the imposition of a State of Emergency (SoE) on July 18.

On Thursday, two of the detainees at Teteron Barracks—murder accused Rajaae Ali and Earl Richards—issued handwritten statements denying they were involved in a plot to kill the Director of Public Prosecutions or other State officials. They claimed they were being set up and expressed fear for their lives, even offering to take lie detector tests to prove their innocence.

Ali, Richards, and eight others had been transferred from the Maximum Security Prison in Arouca to Teteron and Staubles Bay just hours before the SoE was declared.

Commissioner Guevarro said the original threat that triggered the SoE has now been neutralised. “Since the start of the SoE, we have made several arrests and a number of individuals identified as being part of the threat matrix are already before the courts, facing charges, including illegal possession of firearms and ammunition,” he said. “Our efforts have disrupted the initial threat, but our mission now extends beyond containment.”

He said TTPS officers are continuing to work “around the clock to dismantle the organised crime syndicate,” adding that the current phase of the operation demands precision. While he declined to disclose the identities or number of targeted individuals, Guevarro assured the public and judicial officers that national safety and the integrity of the justice system remain paramount.

Guevarro also responded to concerns raised by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) over the number of fatal police shootings during the SoE. PCA Director David West had noted there were at least five fatal police-involved shootings since the emergency measures began, prompting public scrutiny.

In response, Guevarro called for a broader perspective. “I acknowledge the concerns raised by the Police Complaints Authority. At the same time, I find it noteworthy that when 625 citizens were killed in 2024, many at the hands of criminal elements, the PCA’s voice was notably absent.”

He reiterated the TTPS’s commitment to transparency and accountability, noting that all police-involved deaths undergo both internal and independent review. “But let me be clear, pellucidly clear, my priority is the safety of all citizens and the officers sworn to protect them. The TTPS will continue to act within the law to restore order and public confidence,” he said.