In a dramatic confrontation highlighting the dangers of online marketplace transactions, Trinidad and Tobago police eliminated two suspected bandits and apprehended two others during an intelligence-driven sting operation in St. Joseph on January 16.
The operation, conducted by the North Central Division with support from a specialist unit, targeted criminals exploiting Facebook Marketplace to lure victims through fraudulent vehicle sales. Undercover officers arranged a meeting along Mt Hope Road posing as potential buyers, responding to advertisements investigators believed were designed to orchestrate robberies.
According to official TT Police Service (TTPS) statements, four men approached the officers at the designated location and declared a robbery. The situation escalated when suspects opened fire on plainclothes officers, triggering an immediate armed response. Police returned fire, striking three suspects while the fourth accomplice fled the scene.
Two wounded suspects succumbed to their injuries after being transported to Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. The third injured suspect remains hospitalized under police surveillance, while one suspect was apprehended at the scene without injuries. Law enforcement recovered two firearms as evidence from the confrontation.
Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro issued stern warnings to criminals exploiting digital platforms, stating: ‘Expect to meet officers who are trained, prepared and ready to act decisively and within the law. We will continue to confront criminality with lawful, measured and decisive action.’
The TTPS has intensified public advisories regarding online transaction safety, urging citizens to verify identities, insist on secure meeting locations, avoid attending transactions alone, and report suspicious activity immediately. Commissioner Guevarro added that anyone harboring the escaped suspect would ‘feel the full brunt of the law.’
Investigations continue as authorities work to dismantle criminal networks operating through digital marketplaces.