RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil: The government of Trinidad and Tobago has declared a nationwide state of emergency for the second time in less than a year, citing a “coordinated and highly dangerous” threat from criminal networks operating from inside prisons, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro said on Friday that the gangs were planning attacks on security forces and state institutions.
The inmates in question were said to be using smuggled phones and outside accomplices to plot attacks against police officers, judges and prosecutors.
“The scale, coordination, and internal facilitation of these activities indicate an operational capability that exceeds the containment capacity of conventional law enforcement measures,” a government statement.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar vowed swift action.
“I will not stand idly by for years, months, weeks or even days while a minority of illegally armed individuals act in concert to intimidate the people of Trinidad and Tobago,” she said in a statement.
The emergency measures are intended to give security forces broader powers to detain individuals and transfer inmates to dismantle prison-based command structures.
For now, there are no plans to impose a nationwide night-time curfew.
The country had already taken similar measures in December of last year.
Trinidad and Tobago is grappling with one of the highest murder rates in the world.
In 2024, the twin-island nation, home to about 1.5 million people, recorded over 600 homicides for the second time in three years. – BERNAMA-dpa
