US shares ‘persons of interest’ list with Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago’s Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander says the United States has provided the government with a list of “persons of interest” believed to be linked to illegal drugs, firearms trafficking and violent crime in the country.

Speaking to the Trinidad Express, Alexander said he could not disclose further details due to national security concerns, but stressed that the information reflects the level of cooperation between Washington and Port of Spain in the fight against organized crime.

The intelligence sharing comes as Trinidad and Tobago joins the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, an initiative spearheaded by Donald Trump aimed at strengthening regional coordination against drug cartels. The coalition focuses on intelligence sharing as well as joint law enforcement and military operations among participating countries.

According to Alexander, Trinidad and Tobago’s participation in the coalition has drawn criticism from some observers who may not fully understand its significance.

“I support this move as the Homeland Security Minister, so much so that when it happened, I was moved, totally moved,” he said, describing the agreement as a major step forward in the country’s security partnerships.

He added that the initiative reflects the confidence the United States has in the current government led by Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Alexander noted that the United States collects extensive intelligence globally and carefully determines which partners it can trust in efforts to combat cartels and narco-traffickers.

“And they know exactly who they can work with and who they can trust with respect to their security efforts and combating cartels and narco-traffickers,” he said.

Trinidad and Tobago is one of only two Caribbean nations participating in the coalition so far, alongside Guyana. The remaining 17 member countries are in Latin America.

- Advertisement -

The partnership comes amid heightened anti-drug operations in the region. Since September 2025, the United States has conducted several kinetic strikes on suspected drug trafficking vessels in Caribbean waters, operations that have reportedly resulted in more than 100 deaths, including nationals from Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Lucia.

Alexander said any use of force must remain within the law but insisted that stronger action is necessary to tackle criminal networks.

“We support the aggressive action against those persons who continue to kill our citizens through their trafficking,” he said, arguing that drug trafficking and related crimes are undermining society and harming young people.

“They are killing the entire society with their nefarious activities which impact our youth. We are fed up,” he added.

Trinidad and Tobago is currently operating under a state of emergency as authorities attempt to curb violent crime.

Alexander expressed confidence that closer alignment with the United States could help the country confront the security threats it faces.

“It will strengthen us. And again, this alignment will create history in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.