TTPS Extortion Task Force head, Assistant Commissioner of Police Richard Smith, says his unit has received 28 reports of extortion so far from business people and citizens across the country.
This, he said, was despite the numerous complaints being made by business people to various chambers and even the media.
The unit was launched in September this year.
However, Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce president Baldath Maharaj yesterday claimed that threats against business people and citizens are rising.
On Thursday, the Cunupia Business Chamber said there had been an uptick in extortion in the area and residents were gripped by fear.
Yesterday, Maharaj said the Chaguanas business community met with the police last month and extortion was a key topic of discussion.
“Over the last two years, there has been an increase in incidents where the criminal element is targeting the average businessman. And by ‘average’ we’re not talking about large conglomerates, we’re referring to the smaller, mom-and-pop stores, especially those along the Chaguanas Main Road. Montrose Main Road, in particular, has been a hotspot, with business owners reporting that criminals are approaching them, demanding protection money,” Maharaj said.
He said the extortionists have been asking for money in amounts that can be withdrawn from ATMs.
He said, “We’ve received reports of threats like, ‘I know where your children are,’ or ‘I’ll send you a photo of your child leaving school.’ There have also been mentions of knowing the businessman’s wife and daily routines, as smaller business owners need to be physically present at work every day.
“The increase in these reports has become significant over the last nine to twelve months. It’s become a business now,” he said.
But speaking to Guardian Media yesterday, ACP Smith urged victims to come forward. He said aside from the 28 reports, his unit has not received any new complaints.
“In reality, while we would expect to have more reports, the truth is that people are not reporting incidents. As you mentioned, fear plays a significant role. One tactic used by suspects is to threaten victims, saying things like, ‘Don’t go to the police; we know this and that about you.’ Victims may feel more comfortable speaking to a member of the media than approaching a police station, believing that the police won’t adequately protect them.
“However, we do have various ways for individuals to make reports. They can report incidents by phone, and if they trust someone, they can approach a senior officer directly. We also have a hotline number that we share on several occasions,” Smith said.
He also said he held an impromptu meeting with the Cunupia Business Chamber.
“I went there and met with them, sharing a lot of information on extortion, including ways suspects were obtaining phone numbers to make demands. During that meeting, no reports were made to me by any member or anyone present. I also provided my personal number and the hotline number, which is 797-3150,” Smith said.
“I received commendations from some attendees, but no reports have been made so far. Currently, we have around 28 extortion reports, with 25 cases in our database, and we are actively investigating three recent cases,” he added.