Two Prison Officers and Inmate Charged Over Cannabis Smuggling Plot at Golden Grove Prison

On September 17, 2026, two prison officers and a murder‑remand inmate are scheduled to appear before a Master of the High Court in Arouca, facing conspiracy charges for attempting to smuggle prohibited items into Golden Grove Prison.

The investigation began after a female officer was stopped on August 24 while trying to enter the prison with cannabis, cigarettes and other contraband. A three‑week probe led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police’s Operations Team resulted in the arrest of a male officer on August 28 and the identification of the inmate as a third suspect.

On September 14, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions advised that the three be jointly charged with conspiracy to introduce prohibited articles. The female officer additionally faces counts of drug trafficking and delivering contraband to a named inmate. The male officer is charged with misbehaviour in public office for conspiring and facilitating the smuggling. The inmate is accused of possession, aiding the introduction of contraband, transmitting sounds from inside the prison, and refusing fingerprinting.

The operation was overseen by Deputy Commissioner Suzette Martin and involved personnel from the DCP Operations Team, the Inter‑Agency Task Force, the Prison Emergency Response Unit, the Fusion Centre, the Cyber Crime Unit and the Crime Scene Unit. Legal counsel was provided by Superintendent Lal and ASP Mungaroo.

These charges underscore the ongoing challenge of contraband infiltration in Trinidad’s correctional facilities and the authorities’ resolve to hold staff accountable for breaches of public trust.