The US Department of State says crime in T&T is at a critical level. In a 2014 Crime and Safety Report released earlier this month by the US Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security said crime is the principal threat to visitors. The report said while overall criminal activity decreased in 2013, according to T&T Police Service crime statistics, the murder rate increased. “Violent crime is a concern for local security services and the general population. There were 405 murders in 2013, 379 murders in 2012, 354 murders in 2011, 480 murders in 2010, 508 murders in 2009, and 550 (record high) murders in 2008.”
The report mentioned the 2011 state of emergency was called by the government to deal with what they deemed specific and emerging threats, during which the murder rate was greatly reduced, contributing to the low number of murders for 2011. “The majority of violent criminal activity—homicides, kidnappings, assaults, sexual assaults—in Trinidad is gang/drug related or domestic in nature. A significant and growing portion of this violence is attributed to the influence of gangs, illegal narcotics, and firearms. Over 100 criminal gangs have been identified in T&T and these gangs, as well as other organisations, have been linked to crimes related to weapons smuggling, fraud, and other organised criminal activities.”
There were also 551 sexual offences in 2013, the report said. “American citizens have been victims of pickpocketing, assault, theft/robbery, fraud, and murder. However, there is no evidence to indicate that foreigners, specifically expatriate communities, are targeted in particular.” The report contained a warning about public transportation: “The use of maxi-taxis and ‘gypsy taxis’ are not recommended because of the poor condition of the vehicles and the unreliability of drivers. Individuals reportedly have been robbed while travelling in maxi/gypsy taxis, sometimes with the collusion of the drivers.”
The report said there are no known indigenous terrorist groups operating in T&T but “radical elements from criminal gangs are thought to occasionally make contact with individuals and groups with possible terrorist ties around the world, and given the crime rate and some weak aspects of border control that are permissive for drug and weapons trafficking, T&T could be utilised as a transit point for potential terrorists or terrorist organisations.” It also highlighted kidnappings stating that there were 112 kidnappings in 2013, down from 182 in 2012. “Kidnapping for ransom remains a problem in Trinidad. There were four in 2013, three in 2012, five in 2011, four in 2010, eight in 2009, and 17 in 2008. Of the four kidnapping for ransom cases reported in 2013, none was solved.”