(Trinidad Express) Businesswoman Aneesha Narine-Boodoo was kidnapped by three men just feet away from her home in El Socorro yesterday morning.
Around 8 a.m., Narine-Boodoo—one of the operators of auto parts supplier Autorama Ltd—was in her white Toyota Prado at Girez Lane in El Socorro, when a black Toyota Rush with blue swivel lights pulled up next to her and blocked her path.
Three unmasked men exited the vehicle and made their way towards Narine-Boodoo.
They spoke briefly with the mother of two teenagers before dragging her out of the SUV and placing her in their vehicle.
The suspects then drove off.
People in the area notified the police, and a team of officers from the North Eastern Division, led by Snr Supt Mervyn Edwards, responded.
Gridlock system patrols were set up in pursuit of the suspects, but neither they nor Narine-Boodoo were found up to last night.
No ransom demand was made yesterday.
Officials from the Gang and Intelligence Unit as well as the Anti-Kidnapping Unit were also contacted.
When the Express visited Girez Lane yesterday, crime scene investigators were seen dusting the Prado for fingerprints, while several senior officers were observed entering Narine-Boodoo’s home a short distance away from where the Prado had been left.
Several relatives and friends of Narine-Boodoo could also be seen entering and leaving the home.
Most of them declined to speak with reporters.
Among the people who visited were former UNC councillor and public relations officer for the Barataria/San Juan and St Joseph constituencies, and director of the Agricultural Society, Safraz Ali.
Ali told the Express he was shocked and angry about the kidnapping.
“I am still trying to understand how this happened. The residents are very shocked that something like this has transpired in our area. We are angry. I am angry.
“She is a very hard-working woman. She is from an honest family. She is a very generous character who loves and adores her family and neighbours.
“She is one of the sweetest, pleasant, amicable and humble women you will ever meet. So, to know that she has endured something like this, it is outrageous. We are pleading with those who have taken her to please release her safely and soon,” Ali said.
He also criticised the State, saying more needed to be done to protect law-abiding citizens.
“The Government needs to do more. Because things like this, persons who are hard-working and law-abiding, are becoming victims. It shows that crime is not in their control. And it cannot continue,” Ali said.
He called on the State to invest more in CCTV camera systems.
“It’s not rocket science. It works in the United Kingdom and in the United States. If you had a tight network throughout the country, especially on the major road arteries like El Socorro Main Road and Aranjuez Main Road, you would be able to track suspects.
“Maybe if things like this were in place, then the officers would have been able to better and faster intercept the suspects and prevent all that is going on now from happening,” he added.
A friend of the family, who asked not to be identified, told the Express Narine-Boodoo’s family were still trying to come to terms with her kidnapping.
“She has two daughters. Both are teenagers. The children are in a mess. They haven’t eaten all day and have been in a complete state since this happened.
“We don’t know what to do, what to say… because we don’t even know what’s going on right now… This country has come to utter madness.
“She doesn’t trouble anyone. Far from it. She gives back to her community. She’s involved in several projects in this neighbourhood and in this area. She’s always helping out. That’s just the kind of person she is. So to know that despite all this, all her positivity, that someone would come and take her… I don’t have words to express how we are all feeling,” the friend told the Express.