Four people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol during police operations in Tobago on Friday as the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) intensified security for Carnival 2026.
The arrests were made during Operation Resolute Shield in Scarborough and Bacolet between 8.30 am and 12.30 pm.
According to the TTPS, the four men, aged 30, 28, 40 and 41, were found to have alcohol readings above the legal limit.
The highest reading was recorded by a 41-year-old man from Ontario, Canada, at 74 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, 39 microgrammes above the permitted limit.
The other readings were 68 microgrammes, 59 microgrammes and 43 microgrammes.
Police also completed nine stop-and-search forms and issued 13 fixed penalty notices for traffic violations, including failure to wear seat belts, expired inspection stickers, defective tyres, driving without a tint exemption and carrying passengers in a dangerous manner.
The exercise focused on the Stink and Dutty event at the Parade Grounds in Bacolet, as well as passengers and vehicles arriving at the Scarborough Port.
The TTPS said no traffic-related incidents or major crimes were reported during the operation.
In a separate roadblock exercise in Shirvan and Crown Point between 10 am and 2 pm, three people were arrested.
A 26-year-old Buccoo man was arrested for using obscene language, while a 25-year-old Bon Accord man was held for driving without a permit, having never been issued one.
A 39-year-old Canaan man was also arrested on an outstanding affiliation warrant.
Officers issued 21 traffic tickets during that exercise, including 13 for vehicles without inspection stickers, three for having no insurance, two for defective tyres, two for failure to wear seat belts and one for breaching a traffic sign.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Suzette Martin has declared that the division is ready for the remainder of Tobago Carnival.
“The division is ready,” Martin said following a final security briefing on Friday with senior officers and members of operational support teams deployed from Trinidad.
The briefing reviewed communications and security arrangements on the ground, in the air and at sea.
The supporting units include the Guard and Emergency Branch, Inter-Agency Task Force, Coastal and Air Support Unit, Operations Command Centre, Corporate Communications Department and Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch.
The TTPS said operational planning began in August, ahead of the start of Carnival events on October 3.
Martin has also visited several events to assess policing arrangements and ensure officers deployed to Tobago are properly accommodated.
For the remainder of the Carnival season, the Coastal and Air Support Unit will provide aerial surveillance, maritime patrols and specialised law enforcement support in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and other law enforcement agencies.
Drones and marine assets will be deployed along Tobago’s coastline, at popular beaches, major Carnival events and surrounding waters.
The TTPS said the operations will help detect and deter illegal passenger transport by sea, firearms and narcotics trafficking, reckless boating and other unlawful activities.
Joint maritime operations will also cover the waters between Trinidad and Tobago, supported by coastal monitoring and intelligence sharing.
The police service thanked patrons and visitors for their cooperation so far and urged the public to obey traffic laws, avoid drinking and driving, and take personal safety precautions throughout the festivities.
