Two US nationals deported from T&T

Otto Carrington

Two US nationals, Tevin Williams and Zakiya Williams, were deported from Trinidad and Tobago on August 22 to face federal charges in California and New York for drug trafficking and failure to appear in court.
The fugitives, who fled the United States after being granted pre-trial release in 2023, were tracked down by local and international law enforcement after months on the run. Acting on intelligence received earlier this year, officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s (TTPS) Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Vetted Unit arrested the pair in La Romaine on August 19.
The arrests followed a joint investigation launched in March after information surfaced that the Williamses had been hiding in Trinidad. A deportation order was issued by the Ministry of National Security on August 21, clearing the way for their return to U.S. authorities the following day.
The couple was escorted out of Port of Spain by U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) officers and agents from the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), supported by TOCU. U.S. officials confirmed this is the first time in recent memory that two fugitives were deported simultaneously from Trinidad and Tobago.
Both face outstanding charges in the United States. Court documents show they were indicted in September 2023 but absconded while on pre-trial release, triggering federal warrants that were later adopted by the USMS.
The operation brought together several agencies, including TTPS TOCU, the DEA Vetted Unit, the Ministry of National Security, Customs and Immigration, the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, USMS, DSS, the U.S. Embassy in Port of Spain, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the DEA.