Official Statement from the Trinidad & Tobago Prison Service

In its continued efforts to ‘weed out’ and apprehend the corrupt officers within the system, the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service advises that on Saturday December 11, 2021, while conducting searching exercises in the Scanner Room at the Maximum Security Prison, two Prisons Officers were caught with contraband in their possession.

According to an initial report, at around 1.40 pm, sixty (60) cigarettes were found in the possession of Prisons Officer I #3065,  Warren Hercules when he reported for duty.

Some fifteen minutes later, Prisons Officer I #3185 Kevin Byer was caught attempting to smuggle  539 grams of compressed plant-like material hidden in a food container.

Both officers  who have twenty-one(21) and nineteen (19) years’ service respectively, were cautioned about their actions and the Arouca Police were contacted. They are, at present, assisting the police with enquiries.

Commissioner of Prisons, Mr. Dennis Pulchan, who has openly expressed his disdain for trafficking, especially by Prisons Officers, thanked and commended the Officers involved in the searching exercise. He noted that he was extremely pleased that the measures implemented to mitigate trafficking are bearing fruit, as these disgraceful officers continue to put their hard- working colleagues’ lives at risk.

The Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service continues to work relentlessly in its efforts to uphold its mandate of public safety and national security.