Two more police officers have been named in 34 preventive detention orders (PDOs), which were published on Thursday.
All 34 published PDOs were signed by the Minister of Homeland Security, Roger Alexander, in accordance with Paragraph 2 of the Schedule to the Emergency Powers Regulations of 2026.
Although they were only published on Thursday afternoon, the dates of issuance show they were signed between March 16 and April 2, under Legal Notices 135 to 168.
The orders were issued pursuant to Regulation 14 of the regulations, which facilitates “preventive detentions” where it is necessary to prevent persons from acting in a manner prejudicial to public safety based on intelligence received.
They are all expected to be held at the Eastern Correctional Rehabilitation Centre, Arima, with at least three exceptions where it was named that they would be kept at the Remand Yard, Arouca.
The detainees have been identified as Kaveesh Ronaldo Maharaj, Anthony Rawlins, Akil Smith, Quincy Flatts, Arnez Payison, Jameal David, Joseph Oliviere, Justin Clarke, Brent Thomas, Richard Kingsley, Keston Jackie, Chris Maloney, Keon Nelson, Khalid Abdul Malick, Daniel Abdulla Mohammed, Jalini Prima, Stefano Antonio Haban, Esau Nicholas Rampersad, Romell St Clair, Castro Charles, Atileon Johnson, Onecar Thomas, Jabari Davidson, Adrian Seepersad, Hezekiah Forbes, Darion Sorzano, Jackson Woods, Adesa Guy, Josiah Fullerton, Eilan Nicholas, Kristian Nicholas, Arron Dolly, Sudesh Sookoo and Jahone Rolton Telesford.
Two detainees, Jalini Prima and Stefano Haban, were identified as serving members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service allegedly involved in an informal criminal gang operating within the organisation.
Intelligence reports accuse them of extortion, kidnapping, murder, and tipping off criminal elements, as well as conspiring to target fellow officers who refused to participate.
This brings the total number of police officers held under the current state of emergency via published PDOs up to five.
The other three are Stefon Khan, Pramanan Rajpath and Special Reserve Officer Elon Alexander, who have been named in PDOs which have been published over the last month.
Additionally, prison officer Keron Lewis was identified as a key facilitator in the coordination of criminal activities between incarcerated individuals and external actors.
Two women detained
Among the 34 individuals, two women were identified: Jalini Prima and Onecar Thomas. Prima was linked to corruption and organised criminal activity within the Police Service, while Thomas was associated with the Straker OCG and allegedly involved in the concealment and movement of firearms and proceeds of crime.
The group comprises alleged members and associates of several gangs operating in key hotspots, including Laventille, Port of Spain, Tunapuna, Valencia, Penal, Point Fortin, Marabella, and Central Trinidad.
Intelligence reports indicate that many of the groups are actively engaged in violent gang conflicts and have access to caches of high-powered firearms and ammunition.
A significant proportion of the detainees—at least eight—have been identified as members of the 6, 7 and 9 gangs operating in Port of Spain and Laventille. These include Anthony Rawlins, Akil Smith, Quincy Flatts, Arnez Payison, Jameal David, Joseph Oliviere, Justin Clarke and Brent Thomas.
Intelligence suggests these groups are heavily involved in firearm trafficking, narcotics distribution, extortion and coordinated retaliatory shootings in public spaces.
Two detainees, Kaveesh Maharaj and Romell St Clair, along with Castro Charles, were linked to factions of the Resistance Gang operating in Tunapuna and Valencia.
These groups were described as having access to weapons stockpiles and planning coordinated attacks against rivals.
In Penal, five individuals—Adrian Seepersad, Hezekiah Forbes, Darion Sorzano, Jackson Woods and Adesa Guy—were identified as members of the Market Hill Gang.
Sorzano was specifically identified as the leader of the group, directing operations, including firearm trafficking, robberies and retaliatory violence.
Other gangs identified include the Straker OCG in Point Fortin, the “Killers and Sinners” gang in Central Trinidad, and the SIXX gang operating in La Brea and Guapo.
Across nearly all intelligence reports, a common factor was the imminent threat of retaliatory shootings and coordinated attacks in public spaces.
Several groups were described as being in active conflict with rivals, with plans to escalate violence using high-powered rifles and organised strike teams.
Authorities stated that the preventive detentions were necessary to disrupt these networks, prevent the execution of planned attacks, and reduce the risk to public safety posed by ongoing gang conflicts and organised criminal activity.
