Radar spotted boat with kidnapped granny: 10 arrested

73-year-old kidnapping victim Tara Poliah was rescued late Wednesday night after law enforcement intercepted a vessel off the coast of Trinidad, following a radar alert that triggered a multi-agency response. The operation unfolded just before midnight, when officers acting on intelligence from the Radar Centre intercepted a boat approximately one nautical mile north-northwest of Corozal.

On board, they found the abducted woman along with eight men, six Venezuelan nationals and two Trinidad and Tobago nationals, all of whom were detained. Poliah, who had been taken from her San Juan home just hours earlier, was found unharmed.

Police said the kidnapping occurred around 7.12 p.m. at a residence along Don Miguel Road, where the woman was approached by a man and three accomplices. She was forced into a white Nissan AD Wagon, which then drove off in a northerly direction. Investigators believe the victim was being transported out to sea when the vessel was detected.

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Recent kidnappings involving Venezuelan suspects

Poliah’s abduction is one of four in the past 12 months where Venezuelans were suspected to be involved:

Feb 3: Penal businessman Michael Alejandro Espana Ramnath was kidnapped while returning home. Ramnath, 34, who operates the Best Friends Burger Cart, was released weeks after he was grabbed. An undisclosed ransom was reportedly paid.

March 17: San Juan resident Cody Narine was abducted while at Tyrico Bay and is believed to be in Venezuela, after “Spanish-speaking men” demanded a ransom of US$50,000 for his release.

December 6, 2025: Derrick and Clarabelle Tardieu were kidnapped from their Monos Island home island and a US$2.5 million ransom initially demanded. Ten days later, Derrick was released after less than $200,000 was reportedly paid. Approximately three weeks later, his wife was released. The ransom payment for her was not disclosed.

@sgtdjones

Frightening l! Hope dem RH get life behind bars. And, if there was a hell it'd be fair for those responsible for Vene becoming a failed state burn there too. (Sanctions far outweigh mismanagement if any)

@sgtdjones

That Radar never wuk under Rowley PNM.😣

@granite

Was it there then????????

@Brerzerk

The radar was bought by the Manning administration from Israel and worked intermittently.

It was not repaired during the Rowley tenure.

It was remedied with the help of US personnel in T&T recently.

@sgtdjones

Police said the kidnapping occurred around 7.12 p.m. at a residence along Don Miguel Road, where the woman was approached by a man and three accomplices. She was forced into a white Nissan AD Wagon, which then drove off in a northerly direction.

Saw the video of this on crime watch.

Never heard anyone bawl like this as they took her....it was heart wrenching...I was seriously disturbed for hours after...and even now...all de woman ask for was her rent.....

Ian Alleyne was saying many many of these criminal Venes in different part of TT have stopped paying their rent for months....and land lords can't collect their money and are being threatened with impunity

Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander has urged landlords, business owners and citizens to request identification from all non-Trinidad and Tobago nationals residing on their property, operating businesses, or staying in their homes.

The minister also revealed that deportations have begun, with six people sent to Venezuela on Friday.

In a telephone interview with the Sunday Express yesterday, the minister said he plans to consult with the Police Commissioner to ensure protections are in place for anyone who faces threats for requesting identification from employees, tenants, or individuals with whom they have personal relationships.

Alexander urges ID checks on non‑nationals | Local News | trinidadexpress.com

@Narper

Lock up dem RH and throw weh di key!!