Tour operators and other stakeholders connected to the Caroni Swamp have pushed back against claims that a recent multimillion-dollar drug seizure took place within the protected wetland.
According to the operators, the operation occurred along the Caroni River, which they stressed is distinct from the Caroni Swamp and does not fall under the same level of environmental protection or security. They warned that linking the drug bust to the swamp could unfairly damage the reputation of one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most important ecotourism sites.
A resident of Bamboo Settlement, who said he is familiar with the area’s waterways and surrounding swampland, told the Sunday Express that the drugs were intercepted in mangrove areas along the Caroni River rather than inside the swamp itself.
“So far, they’re saying Caroni River, somewhere around Sadhu Trace, going down there to where it meets the Caroni River. The police intercepted them, as far as I understand, in Caroni River in the mangrove,” the resident said.
Tour operators said the distinction is important, noting that the Caroni Swamp is a protected area frequented by local and international visitors, while sections of the Caroni River are more accessible and less monitored.
They are calling for clearer public communication from authorities to avoid confusion and to ensure the Caroni Swamp is not wrongly associated with criminal activity, which they say could negatively affect tourism and conservation efforts.
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