2025, 12/11

 

 

US President Donald Trump yesterday confirmed that America has taken control of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.

 

According to  CNN, he said, “As you probably know, we’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela. Large tanker, very large, largest one ever seized, actually.”

 

Trump did not offer a detailed explanation, saying that it was seized “for very good reason” and signalling that the administration would soon release additional information. Asked what would happen to the oil the tanker was transporting, he said, “We keep it, I guess.”

 

The vessel was heading to Cuba, which has been grappling with some of the worst power outages in decades.

The move risks further escalation of tensions with Venezuela. The US has sent hundreds of troops and several warships, including its largest – the USS Gerald R Ford – to the Caribbean Sea, as it continues its campaign to stem the flow of drug trafficking to the US and other countries in the Western hemisphere.  Since September 2, the US military killed 87 people in strikes that  destroyed 23 alleged drug boats and Trump  suggested action on land could come soon.

The vessel is part of the dark fleet, used to smuggle sanctioned goods and   and was sanctioned by the United States for carrying Venezuelan oil exports.

2)  Tobago radar leads to Caroni Swamp $171m drug bust

Dec 11, 2025

‘In a media release on Thursday, the TTPS stated the radar system, recently commissioned to strengthen the national security apparatus, was instrumental in this discovery.’

The nature of the technology and operational aspects of the exercise cannot be shared with the public but the intelligence triggered a coordinated response led by the Commissioner of Police, Allister Guevarro, as well as Deputy Commissioners of Police Natasha George and Suzette Martin, it stated.

Specialized units of the TTPS; including the Multi-Option Police Section (MOPS) of the Special Branch, the Coastal and Air Support Unit (CASU), the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), and other intelligence arms, were mobilized.

The TTPS stated that guided by the intelligence, officers journeyed overnight into the mangrove of the Caroni Swamp where they recovered the stashed illegal cargo. The vessel was moved to Heliport at Chaguaramas for processing by SIU and CSI.

The seized narcotics amounted to 1,560 kilograms of ‘creepy marijuana’, with an estimated street value of $171,205,320.

No arrests were made during the operation.

The Commissioner of Police commended the effectiveness of the radar system and the coordinated efforts of all units involved, underscoring that the TTPS remains resolute in protecting the nation from the scourge of illegal drugs, it stated.

 

Guevarro: We’re coming for you!

12 december

BIG DRUG BUST: Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro speaks at Staubles Bay, Chaguaramas, where $171 million in “Creepy” marijuana was seized following an exercise in the Caroni Swamp yesterday.

“Know that we are coming for you. Know that the TTPS will be relentless in its search for you and kindly desist from flooding our streets with that, because you would not like the outcome.”This was the warning from Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro yesterday following the seizure of $171.2 million in marijuana in the Caroni Swamp.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has credited the new radar system in Tobago as being instrumental in the seizure of the narcotics .In a media release yesterday, the TTPS said the system generated intelligence that led to a coordinated overnight operation.

The release stated that the nature of the radar technology and specific operational methods could not be shared with the public. However, the information obtained prompted Guevarro, along with Deputy Commissioners Natasha George and Suzette Martin, to initiate a joint exercise involving several specialised units. These included the Multi-Option Police Section (MOPS) of the Special Branch, the Coastal and Air Support Unit (CASU), the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), and other intelligence arms of the TTPS.According to the TTPS, officers travelled into the mangrove area of the Caroni Swamp during the night, where they located a stashed vessel containing illegal cargo. The vessel was taken to the Heliport in Chaguaramas, where SIU officers and crime scene investigators processed the items. The narcotics seized amounted to 1,560 kilogrammes of “Creepy marijuana” with an estimated street value of $171,205,320. No arrests were made.The Commissioner of Police commended the role of the radar system and the coordinated work of all units involved. The TTPS said Commissioner Guevarro reaffirmed that the Police Service remained committed to preventing illegal drugs from entering communities.

‘A tremendous exercise’A nearly five-minute video posted to social media showed officers unloading the seized packages at Staubles Bay in Chaguaramas from three vessels that arrived at the port.The footage showed drugs packed in multicoloured crocus bags on an anchored, blue boat. Officers were later seen placing the bags on a yellow tarp, cataloguing them, and loading them onto a truck, which then exited the facility.The video also captured Commissioner Guevarro standing with Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander and Inspector Ronny Rampallard, who led the overnight operation.

Guevarro reiterated the exercise represented “the first successful operation utilising the newly installed radar system”., “I will not be able to give you much information about the technology nor the nature of the operations, but rather show you the success that came from that operation. And this was found at the Caroni River.”

Speaking about the operation, Inspector Rampallard said it was “a tremendous exercise” driven by intelligence-led policing and supported by contributions from “every single member of every single branch, section and unit and organisation in the TTPS”. He said many of these efforts go unnoticed, but from his experience on the ground, officers faced “extremely harsh terrain” and “hostile territory”. He applauded the men and women involved for their work, describing the exercise as “a real gruelling past day and night”. Rampallard added that crime fighting requires collaboration “both locally and internationally” and said the team would continue to rise above the challenges faced.

 

Watch the tech work!’

 

…Minister hails new Tobago radar system after $171m drug bust

“Watch the technology working for us.”  This was the response of Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander yesterday shortly after it was reported that the newly installed radar system in Tobago was instrumental in a $171 million narcotics seizure in the Caroni swamp.

“The naysayers would have said certain things over the last few days. They would have twisted my words…I said that the radar in Tobago could be and would be used by law enforcement. There exists technology in this world that can be used to see exactly what is on boats that are on the ocean waters.

“So if you can use radars to get information which can lead to the seizure of narcotics or guns and so on, then of course it can be used to examine vessels and see if anything else is going on. So you can use it to get certain information that could aid with investigations. That was all.

“We have a deficiency of radars in this country to track boats. If I had the choice, I would put radars all over T&T because I truly do believe that it would aid with law enforcement in this country,” Alexander said.

In a media release yesterday, the T&T Police Service stated the radar system recently commissioned to strengthen the national security apparatus was instrumental in the discovery of 1,560 kilogrammes of “Creepy marijuana”, with an estimated street value of $171,205,320.

No arrests were made during the operation.

 

Blinded by political rhetoric

Alexander yesterday also praised Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro and his team for the seizure.

“First of all, let me commend the Commissioner of Police and his team, including the constables, the corporals, the sergeants, the whole rank and file, straight up to the executive office. What this demonstrates is that we are not just sitting idly by and watching things pass us by.

“When I was contacted with respect to this operation, I wished them all the success because it speaks to how far they are willing to go, including using the latest technology available to them. Intelligence-led policing is not just a tagline; they are clearly exemplifying it.

“I cannot explain how grateful as a nation we are, ’cause only a few would know of the type of operation that was done and the dangers which brought this success. T&T needs to move away or stop being blinded by any political rhetoric that makes us just see from here to there, only what is in front of them, and not the bigger picture. When a boat leaves a destination and comes to another country, undetected, it could bring anything within its cargo.

“And some of these things continue to cost us heartache and pain, and the burial of relatives. While some persons benefit tremendously from bringing illegal things into this country, that is killing other persons, directly or indirectly, as it causes the suffrage of our citizens, it is the responsibility of the Government to do everything in their power to stop it and to get rid of it permanently,” Alexander said.

On Wednesday, Alexander told the Express that the Government was keeping a close eye on developing regional issues; however, it remained focused on working with regional partners, especially relating to crime-reduction strategies.

Alexander said the State had been made aware of reports that an oil tanker had been seized by the US in the Caribbean Sea.

However, Alexander noted that from the initial information presented, the incident took place in “international waters” and by another government; as such, he did not wish to comment further.

When pressed for his thoughts on what this may mean for regional tensions, he advised that all other questions be directed to the Minister of Defence Wayne Sturge.

“I have no real comment beyond that. If it’s not relevant to Homeland Security… I am trying to stay out of commentary on the portfolios of others. So I believe Mr Sturge would be the best person to ask,” Alexander said.

Background

Last month, the governments of the United States and Trinidad and Tobago began the deployment and installation of a high-tech US military radar system at the ANR Robinson International Airport in Crown Point in Tobago.

The installation was widely reported around November 26–30, when military aircraft and US personnel arrived and radar equipment was set up at the airport.

The radar is believed to be a US Marine Corps AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar—a mobile, multi-mission surveillance system capable of tracking aircraft, low-altitude threats and assisting with airspace monitoring beyond conventional civilian radar capability.

The radar installation sparked controversy as it was secretly installed and the Prime Minister was not forthcoming with information when asked, saying first that it involved airport roadworks and the next day that US Marines were in Tobago assisting with radar installation, runway upgrades and airport road improvements.

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