A 73-year-old businesswoman was abducted from her home and nearly taken out of Trinidad and Tobago by her captors, but police quickly rescued her. The woman, identified as Tara Poliah, was reportedly kidnapped on Tuesday evening after multiple men invaded her home in San Juan.
Initial reports indicate that she was in her garage around 7:30 p.m. when four men confronted her and forced her outside and into a white Nissan wagon before leaving the area. Authorities moved quickly after the abduction was reported, launching a coordinated response involving several specialised units.
Teams from the Traffic and Highway Patrol, Emergency Response Patrol and the Anti-Kidnapping Unit were deployed as officers worked through the night to track the suspects and locate the victim. Their efforts led to a major development hours later when intelligence suggested that the abductors were attempting to move the woman out of the country by sea. Law enforcement agencies, including maritime units, were brought into the operation as the search expanded beyond land.
Shortly after midnight, officers attached to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard intercepted a boat that was meant to transport the victim. The vessel, which was reportedly heading toward Venezuela, was stopped before it could leave the country’s waters.
Poliah, who was unharmed, was removed from the boat and brought to safety, and her abductors were arrested. Police say seven people were taken into custody in connection with the incident. Six of those arrested are Venezuelan nationals, while one is a Trinidadian.
According to police, the incident is linked to a wider network engaged in cross-border kidnappings, which was disrupted during the operation. Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro described the rescue as a significant achievement, highlighting the coordinated effort and intelligence work that contributed to the outcome.
He noted that the operation demonstrated the ability of law enforcement to respond decisively to serious threats. Authorities have also acknowledged the role of public cooperation, noting that information shared by citizens contributed to the operation’s success.
