Trinidad and Tobago

People

Trinidad and Tobago is a source, transit and destination country for trafficking victims. The market is largely driven by local demand and involves mostly foreign actors – Chinese and Venezuelan nationals – exploiting victims in private businesses. Along with women and girls from Trinidad and Tobago, those from Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Guyana and Colombia are vulnerable to sexual exploitation in the country’s brothels and clubs. Economic migrants from the Caribbean and Asia are also at risk of exploitation in domestic servitude and/or forced labour in the retail sector. Additionally, the sheer volume of vessels going through Trinidad and Tobago’s territorial waters increases the risk of forced labour in the fishing industry, and many trafficked boys are coerced into selling drugs. Corruption among police and immigration officials in relation to human trafficking exists, but its extent is unknown.

While small in scale, there is a human smuggling market in Trinidad and Tobago, and large numbers of Venezuelan citizens irregularly cross the border into the country on a daily basis. Although Trinidad and Tobago is not always their final destination, the proximity and porosity of its borders make it a key transit point. Human smuggling routes are often disjointed and form part of other crime networks, including those involving vessels that cross the channel carrying both irregular Venezuelan migrants and contraband. In case irregular migrants are unable to pay smugglers, they may be pushed into forced labour and/or sexual exploitation.

There is evidence that extortion takes place in Trinidad and Tobago, mostly in prisons, where inmates extort citizens, including attorneys, through various means. Moreover, some of the local gangs that have been cooperating with Venezuelan mafias in drug and arms trafficking, are also profiting from activities like kidnapping for ransom and extortion.

Trade

Trinidad and Tobago is a destination country for the regional arms trafficking market, with most weapons being sourced from the US. In some cases, illicit drugs have accompanied illicit arms shipments, with the arms being used as a form of payment. The political and economic crisis in Venezuela is believed to have exacerbated Trinidad and Tobago’s arms trafficking market. Due to the evolution of gangs in the country, there has also been an increase in gang-on-gang violence using sophisticated fully automatic high-powered firearms smuggled to Trinidad and Tobago from either the US or Canada. These firearms are often concealed in legitimate cargo and facilitated by corrupt port officials. Firearms also come through airports. There have also been reports of Venezuelans living in Trinidad and Tobago brokering deals for local traffickers.

Among the most frequently traded counterfeit products in Trinidad and Tobago are cosmetics, clothes, pharmaceuticals, and jewellery, as well as other consumer goods. The country is believed to have insufficient enforcement of intellectual property rights protection, which is an obstacle to legitimate businesses. Moreover, there has apparently been an increase in the presence of illegally-traded excise consumer goods such as tobacco and alcohol. A considerable proportion of cigarettes and alcoholic beverages is illegally traded in Trinidad and Tobago, causing considerable revenue losses to the state.

Environment

There is no indication of a flora crime market in Trinidad and Tobago. Although parrots and monkeys are reportedly trafficked from Venezuela through Trinidad and Tobago, from where they are exported to Europe, there is no information to suggest the presence of a notable fauna crime market. Trade in wildlife has grown since the start of the economic crisis in Venezuela, in parallel with an increased demand. Coast guard and game wardens have made several seizures at sea of wildlife that smugglers were attempting to bring into the country.

In terms of non-renewable resources, gold appears to be smuggled from Venezuela into Trinidad and Tobago, where local companies in Port of Spain offer charter flights for shipment to destination markets. Although fuel smuggling has been reported by the media, there are no available statistics considering that the quantities involved are not a substantial part of the country’s consumption.

Drugs

The heroin trade is rather limited in Trinidad and Tobago, which serves mostly as a destination country. Nevertheless, local gangs are allegedly involved in the distribution of heroin and the country is being used as a transit point for heroin deliveries. While high levels of violence and corruption are associated with cocaine trafficking, heroin-specific data remains limited.

Cocaine trafficking is pervasive in the country, with foreign actors exercising influence over the market. The country lies along one of the world’s most significant cocaine corridors, which influences Trinidad and Tobago’s role as a transit country for South American cocaine bound for the US and Europe. A domestic cocaine market also exists in the country. The well-established cargo routes between Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Venezuela facilitate the cocaine trade; drugs are concealed in legitimate cargo vessels, from which they are handed over to smaller local vessels at sea or delivered to specific drop-off locations in the region. The northern port of Chaguaramas, the largest yacht marina in the Caribbean, is an important hub for illicit trade, as yachts there have been used to stash cocaine from Venezuela before it is sold and moved to Europe by yacht or air. Notably, Trinidad and Tobago is a considerable point of transit for cocaine shipped to other eastern Caribbean islands. The most vulnerable areas for drug trafficking are the eastern parts of Trinidad.

The cannabis trade is also quite extensive in Trinidad and Tobago. While the country is mostly a waypoint for cannabis coming from South America on its path to the US and Europe, a large and growing domestic market exists as well. Cannabis shipments primarily arrive in the country from Venezuela, St Vincent and Guyana via small boats or cargo vessels at legal ports of entry. In addition, information suggests that cargo ships are offloading cannabis to smaller vessels at sea. Gangs in the country also allegedly collaborate with counterparts from St. Vincent to traffic cannabis. They are now believed to provide supplies for cannabis cultivation, while Vincentians may provide land and labour in return for shared profits from cannabis distribution. Marijuana and cocaine are often trafficked together. Corruption is reportedly rampant, with police and customs officials often accepting bribes, while the market is driving an increase in violent crime and gun culture.

Consumption of synthetic drugs in Trinidad and Tobago is relatively small and limited to the Chinese community, although synthetic drug use among students is a growing concern. The influx of Chinese nationals into the country also seems to correlate with an increase in the import and use of ketamine. Criminal gangs are believed to control the synthetic drug market.

Cyber Crimes

Cyber-dependent crime is a relatively new criminal market in the country and, as such, is quickly evolving. According to statistics, Trinidad and Tobago may register the highest breach density of email accounts in the Caribbean. Since cyber-attacks increased in the first months of 2021, the government issued alarms about ransomware attacks targeting public and private entities. The COVID-19 pandemic shifted organizations online, allowing for increased technological innovation and e-commerce but also providing more opportunities for cybercrime. Incidents include government websites being defaced, data leaks and hacking. Most hacking networks are comprised of foreign nationals, usually Venezuelans who have access to specific equipment. Sectors hardest hit by cyber-attacks are government, finance and manufacturing.

Financial Crimes

There has been an increase in financial crime and become more prevalent in Trinidad and Tobago. The most common financial crimes observed in the country are tax evasion and financial fraud. Although skimming decreased slightly during the pandemic, there is evidence that criminals specializing in online fraud like data phishing and skimmers have established a foothold in the country with networks in operation. These are usually comprised of foreign nationals, often Venezuelans. Also, it is important to mention that law enforcement, customs and immigration officials, army personnel and high-ranking government officials have facilitated fraud operations, including pyramid schemes.

Criminal Actors

Trinidad and Tobago’s strategic position is believed to appeal to transnational criminal groups, especially those engaged in trafficking drugs to the US, Canada and Europe, as well as human trafficking. In recent years, many Venezuelan criminal groups have migrated to Trinidad and Tobago, with the most well-known being the Evander gang, also known as the Deltano Liberation Front. The influence of Chinese criminal groups is also reported in the country, with Chinese nationals being linked to illicit trafficking and murder.

Information suggests that there are around a hundred criminal networks in Trinidad and Tobago. Such groups are involved primarily in drug trafficking, although it is alleged that they also engage in arms trafficking and fraud. Most of these networks are concentrated in the Port of Spain, but a strong presence has been observed in impoverished urban communities as well.

Mafia-style groups are present in Trinidad and Tobago, and those involved in drug trafficking are believed to perpetrate high levels of violence across the country. Generally, they are poorly organized and have a loose structure compared to traditional mafia-style groups. Criminal groups and violence in the country are fuelled by identity conflicts stemming from the 1990 coup attempt by the Islamic group Jamaat al Muslimeen. This group has long dominated the country’s criminal scene, although the lack of education and opportunity in the country has also made crime attractive for many young non-Muslim men. This has led to the formation of two overarching rival gangs: the Muslims (or Muslim City) and Rasta City, a self-identified Rastafarian group. Even though the names of these groups allude to a possible connection to faith systems –Islam and Rastafarianism – some members may subscribe to other religions or have no genuine religious attachment. Most of the country’s smaller street gangs align with one of these two main groups, generating not only fights for the control of drug trafficking areas, but also identity conflicts. These rival gangs engage in extortion and murder for hire. Newer, younger and more violent leaders are now emerging; existing gangs are splintering and coming into conflict with each other.

State-embedded actors reportedly facilitate organized-crime activities in the country. Despite such allegations, however, there is no evidence of state-embedded actors being directly involved in criminality. Private sector actors in certain sectors, such as real estate and automotive, are involved in money laundering schemes and tax evasion. Furthermore, higher profile actors have allegedly been enjoying unethical benefits through corruption in the country.

Leadership and governance

Despite criminal structures providing security, welfare and even education in some areas, authorities in Trinidad and Tobago have taken a strong stance against organized crime, and criminal structures do not appear to be influencing the democratic process. For instance, the government has made significant efforts to strengthen existing policies to combat human trafficking and identify victims, including the development of a National Action Plan 2021–2023. In addition, the country is relatively stable, having made substantive progress in reducing vulnerability to conflict and collapse. In recent years, the government has passed several laws to address corruption concerns. Despite that, implementation is lacking, and the perception of corruption remains relatively high.

Trinidad and Tobago is party to most international treaties and conventions pertaining to organized crime. Authorities have reportedly established proper collaboration channels with counterparts combating organized crime, in particular drug trafficking. The country has an active international cooperation agenda and takes part in important initiatives to reinforce its capacities to fight crime. Trinidad and Tobago has a fairly strong legal framework that addresses all forms of organized crime activities, stipulating policies for the investigation, arrest, prosecution, adjudication and punishment of criminals. Trinidad and Tobago made an important step in decriminalizing the cultivation and possession of small quantities of cannabis in 2019, but the impact remains to be seen. There is currently no legislation on cybercrime. This constitutes a priority area for the government, which aims to fight cybercrime offences and establish a more robust framework for the enforcement of cybercrime penalties.

Criminal justice and security

Trinidad and Tobago’s judicial system is generally independent, but widely perceived as underfunded, weak, slow and inefficient. Additionally, there are allegations that political pressure and corruption have some influence on the judiciary. The prison system faces significant challenges, including overcrowding, corruption and abuse, although there is no evidence to suggest that criminal actors are able to exert control over prisons.

There are organized crime-focused law enforcement units in the country, including the transnational organized crime unit, which has a good reputation for integrity and professionalism, and the organized crime, narcotics and firearms bureau. On the other hand, many law enforcement officials have been accused of excessive use of force and some allegedly have close links with gang leaders. Members of the armed forces and customs officials have also been accused of facilitating trafficking and smuggling of drugs, weapons and humans. In addition, the government relies on gang leaders to deliver state services to poor communities. In this sense, officials view these leaders as arbiters of violence within these areas and expect them to mitigate and contain crime within their neighbourhoods.

The country’s highly porous borders, along with its proximity to South American drug markets and excellent transport links to other Caribbean countries and to Europe, render it very susceptible to trafficking flows. The country’s border controls have been further compromised by the Venezuelan crisis. There was also an increase in the transportation of drugs through maritime routes, with the use of semi-submersible vessels instead of commercial fishing vessels or shipping containers, as these are less detectable to border officers. Among the agencies responsible for policing Trinidad and Tobago’s borders are the customs agency and the coastguard. While staffing is reportedly an issue with the former, lessening the agency’s effectiveness, the coastguard is technically well-equipped and has its own intelligence and analysis unit, allowing it to function adequately.

Economic and financial environment

Trinidad and Tobago’s relatively stable economy, developed financial system and geographic position render it vulnerable to money-laundering operations. Despite the country criminalizing money laundering and establishing a financial intelligence unit to enforce regulations for the prevention and control of money laundering, terrorism financing and the forfeiture of illicitly derived assets, Trinidad and Tobago still rates poorly by a range of standards. However, the government has been addressing this issue. In 2021, Trinidad and Tobago made progress towards strengthening its anti-money laundering regime, including strengthening its legislative framework and investigating and prosecuting suspected cases. Businesses in the country operate largely free from criminal activities. Nevertheless, criminal organizations have been active in extortion rackets and are also known to extort contractors carrying out public works projects.

Civil society and social protection

Trinidad and Tobago has a fairly robust framework in place to support victims of modern slavery, providing for adequate relocation and protection measures. A witness protection programme also exists which has been recognized as one of the safest in the region. In addition, non-state actors play a substantial role in victim and witness support, with several NGOs providing shelter and other social services to adult and child victims of trafficking, as well as to drug users and drug offenders set to be released from prison. A number of NGOs also work towards reducing violence and crime in vulnerable populations, while Trinidad and Tobago’s Citizen Security Programme pursues the same goals through police reform, community-based prevention strategies and strengthening the country’s Ministry of National Security and police services. Civil society is robust, with a range of domestic and international interest groups operating freely. Media freedom is well established in the country with privately owned and vigorously pluralistic media outlets.