17/01/2026
Phones hidden in vaginas: Phones and illegal items seized during Women’s Prison— contraband crackdown
In a first-of-its-kind operation, police and prison authorities uncovered contraband, including multiple cellular phones, during an intelligence-led raid at the Women’s Prison in Golden Grove, Arouca early Saturday morning.
The joint exercise, conducted between 1:15 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. on January 17, 2026, involved an all-female search team from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and the Prison Service, targeting inmates suspected of coordinating criminal activity outside prison walls while incarcerated.
During the operation, three female inmates were found to have concealed cell phones internally. One phone was recovered directly, while the other two required medical examination for retrieval. Another phone was also seized from a separate cell.
Authorities reported that additional items of evidential value were discovered during the searches.
Police say investigations are ongoing, and charges are expected to be filed against the inmates involved.
The operation marks a significant step in cracking down on contraband and criminal coordination inside correctional facilities, with officials highlighting the use of specialized intelligence and targeted female-led teams for the first time in such an exercise.
