Police are again asking for citizens to work with law enforcement to limit extortion of businesses.
The call comes after a 48-year-old businessman from San Juan told police that last Sunday evening he received a threatening phone call in which the caller demanded that he pay $30,000 in cash.
The caller also demanded that the businessman hand over ten pairs of sneakers.
The businessman said he was told if he did not make the payment, he and his family would be killed.
A team of officers, led by W-Cpl Maurice, responded and is continuing investigations.
In May, Oropouche East Member of Parliament Dr Roodal Moonilal called for a new unit in the Police Service to curb extortion of businesses by criminal gangs and for tough new laws.
He said he had been informed that gangs were demanding money from citizens along the East-West Corridor for ‘protection’ money.
He added that some of the demands were as much as $30,000.
In February, 41-yearold businessman Kelvin Mohammed was fatally shot in Enterprise.
Relatives told the media they believed he was killed for refusing to pay ‘tax’ to gangsters in the area.
Mohammed was the owner of K-Chow Ice Cream Shop at Crown Trace, Enterprise, and was shot dead while closing his business.
Officers from the T& T Police Service said they have taken note of recent extortion reports and are calling on citizens to work with law enforcement.
Over the last few months, several people have been held for extortion/demanding money by menace.
Last month, three people were arrested after attempting to extort $600,000 from a businesswoman.
The woman informed the authorities, and a police team intercepted the suspects during the handover.
Three individuals were arrested: two men, aged 44 and 40; and a 33-year-old woman.
The 44-year-old suspect was a security guard who had a licensed firearm.
Police spokesmen had said these arrests have broken up an extortion racket in Central Trinidad.
TTPS media ambassador ASP Rajesh Lal, in an interview earlier this month, said collaborating with the police was one way of minimising the risk of extortion.
‘Persons are threatening you? Bring that information forward so the police could determine what is the best tactic available to ensure there is a safety net around the businesses. So we will know which businesses are being targeted,’ Lal had said.
