The Strategic Services Agency’s forecast for 2020 had noted it was expected criminal gangs may have continued to spread outwards from traditional areas and either attempt to influence the 2020 general election electoral process “by forming strategic alliances with prospective candidates or other influential persons.”
This is stated in the SSA’s 2019 report.
The SSA’s 2019-2021 reports were laid in the Senate on Tuesday, plus the Interception of Communication Reports 2018-2021.
The SSA develops strategic intelligence, prepares crime prevention strategies and advises on policy formation.
The report stated in 2019, serious crime, narcotics trafficking, economic/food security, illegal migration, returnee Foreign Terrorist Fighters, domestic Islamic State and the Levant (ISIL) - inspired radicalised enthusiasts and public corruption continued to dominate the security landscape and demand resources.
“While the State managed some of these threats, many effects may yet manifest in 2020,” the report noted.
Given its analysis of 2019, SSA’s forecast for 2020 noted general elections bells and, “It is expected that criminal gangs may continue to spread outwards from traditional areas and may either attempt to influence the electoral process by forming strategic alliances with prospective candidates or other influential persons. Corruption, evident by the wanton use of wireless devices within the prison system are just symptoms of a larger issue that criminal gangs present a real threat to the State and will continue to compromise those in authority through intimidation and misrepresentation of their true motives.”
The report noted, “In 2019, T&T recorded an increase in the number of prison escapees. As such, the SSA has continued to be actively involved in the recapture of these escapees; detection of murders committed by gang members on the orders of leaders and has affected significantly, the operations of migrant smugglers and drug traffickers.”
The SSA noted in 2019 multiple murders as gang members exacted revenge on each other.
Of the nine police divisions, Northern, Port-of-Spain, Central, Western and Southern Divisions remained some of the most deadly.
Noting younger gang members, the report added, “This younger group has proven to be more violent and brazen thus are more influential. Infusion of gang culture with dancehall music is an issue for specific age groups. Music has allowed a medium for gang members to display wealth and other ill-gotten gains via social media allowing for glorification of the illegal lifestyle—also effective recruitment strategy.”
The report noted that the “pervading presence of migrants both undocumented and permitted as per the Venezuelan reality” continued to influence the retail/export narcotics trade.
This reality continues to drive the criminality associated with the trade. While locals continue to dominate the trade, there are indications of a thrust by some Venezuelans and Columbians to establish/control wholesale narcotic operations in some parts of T&T.”
Apart from the demand for Vincentian and Venezuelan marijuana, cocaine trafficking continued.
Use of Amphetamine type stimulants including Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), Ecstasy and other unknown narcotics became more apparent. Intelligence suggested six of the 50 most potent pills worldwide were available locally then.
Also, “As the Venezuelan crisis persists, several immigrants are initially smuggled to T&T then forced into labour. Passports and other official documents are confiscated and persons become victims of Human Trafficking. Female minors are forced into the illegal sex trade and forcibly become involved in the consumption of drugs.
Some criminal organisations utilise Ketamine to ensure sexual compliance for unwilling victims. Intelligence suggests some element of the Asian population within T&T is actively involved in this practice and collude with locals and possibly Venezuelan nationals.”
After the decimation of the ISIL terrorist group, SSA noted, “Undoubtedly, with the highest export of FTFs in the western hemisphere per capita, Government continues to prepare for this fallout.”
“The ISIL phenomena forced T&T’s security agencies to accept two realities—the first being that within the ten per cent of Muslim believers, there’s a degree of domestic radicalism which demands attention; and that state apparatus should prepare for possible mass return of foreign terrorist fighter and their offspring over time.
“Global trends indicate some returnees would either find solace within criminal gangs or return to similar paths of radicalisation. In either event, this group presents significant threat that requires resources and a corresponding Whole-of-Government approach.”
