Trinidad April 2026: 15 Murders in 14 Days — 145 Crimes as TTPS Issues Delivery Alert

Executive Summary

Trinidad recorded 145 crimes and 185 victims in the first 14 days of April 2026 — on pace to exceed March’s full-month total of 281 incidents if current trends hold. The month’s murder rate has accelerated 23% compared to March, with 15 homicides in just two weeks. The pattern coincides with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service issuing a public safety advisory warning delivery drivers and businesses about heightened robbery risk — a warning that April’s data directly supports, with at least six documented incidents targeting drivers and commercial operators between April 1–14.

Key Statistics (April 1–14, 2026)

• Total Incidents: 145 (vs. March full month: 281 — current pace exceeds March)
• Murder: 15 incidents (↑ 23% daily rate vs. March’s 0.87/day)
• Assault: 40 incidents — highest volume crime type
• Theft: 22 incidents
• Robbery: 18 incidents
• Attempted Murder: 9 incidents
• Carjacking: 7 incidents (↑ vs. March’s full-month total of 5)
• Burglary: 7 incidents
• Shooting: 6 incidents
• Total Victims: 185 across all crime categories

Delivery Workers in the Crosshairs

The TTPS advisory urged delivery drivers and business owners to “exercise increased caution” — and April’s data shows why. At least six incidents recorded between April 1–14 directly involved drivers and commercial operators:

• April 1 — Woodlands: A taxi driver picked up five men posing as passengers and was robbed.
• April 2 — Chaguanas: Maxi-taxi driver Rondell Bowen was held up and robbed while working.
• April 5 — D’Abadie: A 57-year-old maxi-taxi driver was robbed at gunpoint while operating along the Priority Bus Route.
• April 7 — Freeport: A truck driver and four family members were robbed at their home.
• April 13 — Point Fortin: A courier driver was robbed at knifepoint in the Reservoir Hill area.
• April 13 — Enterprise/Morvant: A 31-year-old courier was robbed of his vehicle and phone.

Two separate armed robberies also targeted fast food outlets — Churches Texas Chicken in Penal (April 5 and April 11) — and a supermarket was robbed in Dow Village on April 13, consistent with the TTPS warning about businesses handling cash transactions.

Regional Breakdown

Port of Spain

Port of Spain leads April with 18 incidents — the highest concentration in the country. Robbery and assault are the primary crime types, continuing the capital’s persistent vulnerability as a commercial and transit hub.

San Juan

San Juan recorded 13 incidents in the first two weeks of April. The area has been a consistent top-two hotspot throughout 2026, with a mix of assault, robbery, and violent crime.

Carapo

Carapo recorded 6 incidents — disproportionately high for the area’s size — including murders and violent assaults, continuing a pattern seen in the weekly data since late March.

Chaguanas

Five incidents in Chaguanas include two of the driver robberies noted above, as well as a carjacking. The area’s concentration of maxi-taxi routes and delivery corridors appears to make it a recurring target.

Penal

Penal saw 5 incidents, including two separate robberies at the same Churches Texas Chicken outlet — the second occurring just days after the first, suggesting deliberate repeat targeting of that business.

Crime Type Analysis

Assault — Most Prevalent Threat

With 40 incidents in 14 days, assault is on pace to exceed March’s full-month figure of 52. Many involve armed assault during robberies, blurring the boundary between these categories in practice.

Murder — Accelerating Daily Rate

At 15 murders in 14 days, April’s daily rate of 1.07 compares unfavourably to March’s 0.87 — a 23% increase. Among the victims were two businesspeople: Tricia Marajh, owner of T’s Tasty Treats in Curepe (shot on April 8), and Steve Ghany Jr., son of a prominent South Trinidad businessman (shot in St Madeleine, also April 8).

Carjacking — Already Exceeding March

Seven carjackings in the first 14 days of April already surpasses March’s full-month figure of five. Curepe and Chaguanas account for three of these incidents, with multiple suspects armed in each case.

Trends and Insights

1. Workers and operators are a consistent target: The concentration of driver, courier, and business robberies mirrors what the TTPS advisory flagged. Delivery workers operating predictable routes — particularly maxi-taxi and courier services — are repeatedly exposed.

2. Murder rate up from March: The 23% increase in murders per day is the most concerning data point of the month so far. March itself ended with 27 murders — April is already at 15 with more than half the month remaining.

3. Repeat targeting of businesses: The two Churches Texas Chicken robberies in Penal (April 5 and April 11) and the Carnival Supermarket robbery on April 13 suggest businesses handling cash are being revisited when initial security responses are inadequate.

4. Carjacking acceleration: Seven carjackings in two weeks versus five for all of March signals an increase in vehicle-targeted crime that warrants attention from vehicle owners and fleet operators alike.

Safety Recommendations

For delivery drivers and couriers:

• Verify customer details and order authenticity before committing to a delivery.
• Avoid completing deliveries in isolated or unfamiliar locations — renegotiate the drop point if something feels wrong.
• Maintain contact with your dispatcher or a trusted person throughout your shift.
• Be wary of passengers or customers who suggest alternative routes or make last-minute changes to pickup or delivery details.

For businesses:

• Review cash handling protocols, especially for closing-time procedures and high-value transactions.
• Ensure staff have a discreet means to raise an alert. If a business has already been robbed once, treat a second attack as likely — escalate security immediately.
• Visible CCTV acts as a deterrent and supports investigations after the fact.

For Port of Spain and San Juan residents:

• These two areas account for 21% of April’s incidents combined. Avoid displaying valuables in high-footfall areas and report suspicious activity to the nearest police station.

March 2026 in Review

March 2026 recorded 281 incidents and 384 victims across the full month. Murder (27), assault (52), and theft (50) were the leading crime types. Port of Spain (47 incidents) and San Juan (23) dominated the geographic distribution — a pattern that has continued unchanged into April.

Methodology Note

All data is sourced from verified media reports published by Trinidad Express, Guardian TT, Newsday, CNC3, and reputable local Facebook pages including Crime Watch. April figures cover April 1–14, 2026, with a 3-day reporting lag applied to account for publication delays. March totals cover the full calendar month (March 1–31, 2026). Each incident has been cross-referenced with original source articles.

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