Law enforcement agencies in Trinidad have pulled off one of the largest narcotics seizures in recent months, uncovering 416.5 kilogrammes of cocaine with an estimated street value of $193.5 million concealed inside modified backhoe tires at a warehouse in Longdenville, Central Trinidad. The location of the bust sits in the heart of a residential neighborhood, just steps away from a local preschool, raising new questions about how major drug operations are embedding in populated, community-focused areas.
The coordinated operation unfolded over a 24-hour window, kicking off at 3:40 a.m. Wednesday and wrapping up at 3:30 a.m. Thursday. Organized under the oversight of Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Kerwin Francis, head of the Criminal Division, the operation was led on the ground by Acting Superintendent St Clair. The action stemmed from intelligence that illegal weapons and narcotics were being stored at a compound along Pokhor Road, a quiet dead-end street located east of the commercial hub of Chaguanas.
Acting under provisions laid out in Section 12 of the 2026 Emergency Powers Regulations, officers gained the authority to enter and search the premises without first securing a standard search warrant. These emergency powers were designed to enable law enforcement to move quickly on time-sensitive enforcement activity during a state of emergency, specifically when officers have reasonable cause to suspect criminal activity or contraband is present on site. After gaining entry, teams carried out a systematic search of the on-site residence, warehouse, and surrounding perimeter.
It was during this detailed search that investigators stumbled on six large backhoe tires mounted on steel rims stored inside the warehouse. A closer inspection of four of the six tires revealed dozens of rectangular drug packages stashed inside their hollow casings. In total, officers recovered 420 individual packages of cocaine, which were packed inside crocus bags before being seized as evidence. While Trinidad’s Customs and Excise division typically handles contraband inspections at ports of entry and designated container examination facilities, the legislation grants the agency enforcement powers at off-port locations in appropriate circumstances. In this case, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) led the search and discovery, with Customs officers joining afterward to assist with official weighing and documentation of the seizure.
After processing, the combined weight of the cocaine shipment was confirmed at approximately 416.5 kilogrammes. Using TTPS’s standard street value calculation of $464,640 per kilogramme of cocaine, the total estimated worth of the seizure comes out to roughly $193.5 million, making it one of the most valuable cocaine busts carried out by the service this year.
Three individuals have been taken into custody in connection with the smuggling operation. Those detained include a 42-year-old businessman who holds residency in the British Virgin Islands, alongside two St Lucian nationals aged 37 and 38. Following the discovery, Acting ASP St Clair conducted an on-site inspection, while officers from the Central Division Crime Scene Investigations Unit processed the location for forensic evidence. The seized narcotics were later transported to the Special Investigations Unit headquarters in Port of Spain, and the three detainees are being held at the St Joseph Police Station as the investigation continues.
Local residents of Pokhor Road told reporters they had no advance warning of the large-scale law enforcement operation, and only became aware when they saw dozens of officers swarming the compound. The dead-end road is home to a mix of permanent residents, and locals said they had not noticed any unusual or suspicious activity around the targeted compound in the weeks leading up to the raid. One resident noted that while neighbors noticed the heavy police presence overnight, most assumed officers were carrying out a routine targeted operation and did not probe for details. Public records show the warehouse where the cocaine was found is owned by a local businessman who holds multiple commercial and residential properties across Central Trinidad.
This Longdenville bust marks the latest in a string of large-scale narcotics seizures carried out by TTPS in recent months. Other major hauls recorded by the service in 2025 and 2026 include:
– In August 2026, port police in Scarborough, Tobago intercepted a vehicle entering the island and discovered 33 kilogrammes of compressed cannabis hidden in a custom-built compartment disguised as a spare gas tank in the vehicle’s trunk. The seizure was valued at approximately $1.1 million.
– In March 2026, a multi-agency operation at Richardson Trace in Fyzabad uncovered five crocus bags holding narcotics worth a combined $23.1 million. The haul included 207.9 kilogrammes of high-potency Colombian cannabis and 0.5 kilogrammes of cocaine.
– In February 2026, acting on intelligence that a large drug shipment had arrived from South America, police seized approximately $6.3 million worth of cannabis in Gasparillo.
– Later that same month, the Central Division Gang Unit partnered with specialist enforcement teams to raid a marina on Cacandee Road in Felicity, Chaguanas, seizing high-grade cannabis valued at more than $102 million.
– In December 2025, over a 24-hour enforcement period, officers uncovered a combined 2.2 tonnes of marijuana across operations in Point Fortin and the Caroni Swamp, including a single $56 million cannabis haul found in a forested area of Cap-de-Ville.