T&T home to 186 gangs

Trinidad and Tobago is home to 186 gangs, comprising an estimated 1,750 members, according to a June 2026 report by the United Kingdom Home Office. The Country Policy and Information Note (CPIN) details the prevalence of gangs and organized crime in the nation, linking them to a substantial portion of violent crime.

The report indicates that gangs were associated with 43.7% of murders in 2024 and approximately one-third of murders in 2025. Data compiled by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) suggests that 57% of the population was exposed to gang violence between January and September 2024, calculated by proximity to violent incidents. Gang activity is most concentrated in Port of Spain and along the East-West Corridor, though criminal groups are present nationwide.

Key areas identified include Laventille, Morvant, Sea Lots, Beetham, Tunapuna, Arima, Diego Martin, Chaguanas, and San Fernando, with most gang-related murders occurring in northwestern Trinidad. The report names "Muslims" and "Rasta City" as principal gang groupings, alongside others like Sixx, Seven, Resistance, Anybody Gets It (ABG), Tyson, and Boombay Gang. Many smaller gangs align with larger groups, though splinter gangs and independent networks have increased.

Gang involvement spans drug and firearms trafficking, contract killings, kidnappings, extortion, human trafficking, armed robbery, illegal quarrying, and fraud. The report also notes the presence of Venezuelan criminal organizations, such as Tren de Aragua and Evander, operating with local gangs. Recruitment targets young people aged 12 to 16, occurring in schools and prisons. Women are also members and can hold leadership positions. Gangs maintain community influence through financial support, dispute mediation, and employment opportunities, raising concerns about State contracts awarded to individuals with gang connections. The report was released following a state of emergency declared in December 2024, during which over 4,000 arrests were made and approximately 1,600 people were charged.