A former police officer awaiting extradition to the United States on cocaine trafficking and firearms charges has died while in custody at the Eastern Correctional Rehabilitation Centre (ECRC).
Raphael Joseph, 32, was pronounced dead at the Arima Hospital on Wednesday morning after he was found unresponsive in a separation cell at the prison.
According to police, around 6.30 a.m., a supervisor at the ECRC was conducting routine checks at the Separation Cell Block when he discovered Joseph unresponsive.
Two prison medics placed Joseph into an ambulance and rushed him to the Arima Hospital.
While en route, the officers observed that Joseph had shallow breathing and a weak pulse and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Despite their efforts, Joseph was pronounced dead at 7.57 a.m.
A post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted next week to determine the cause of death.
Joseph was among three Trinidad and Tobago nationals arrested on December 30, 2025, during a joint operation involving the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Vetted Unit, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s Special Investigative Unit (SIU) and the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU).
Also arrested were Michael McSween and Clevon Persad.
The three men were wanted under provisional arrest warrants issued in connection with an indictment filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
They were charged with conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, along with firearms-related offences, arising from a 2024 DEA investigation.
At the time of his arrest, Joseph was an active-duty police officer attached to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
Following the arrests, US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Dr Jenifer Neidhart de Ortiz described the operation as a significant achievement in bilateral law enforcement cooperation, while Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro confirmed that Joseph had been taken into custody pending extradition proceedings to the United States.
