Detention orders for more gang suspectsSTATE GOES AFTER 19A man who police say is linked to more than 30 homicides, a Piarco woman who is alleged to be the second-in-command of a criminal gang, and two people who have been linked to the killing of a police officer are among those included in 19 new Preventative Detention Orders (PDOs).
The PDOs, which have all been signed by Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander, call for the immediate arrests of the people who have been deemed to be threats to public safety.
They were published on August 19, however, the orders were signed on different days between July 31 and August 15.
The people named are Eesha Joseph, aka “Queen B” and “Boss Lady” of B’s Trace in Piarco; Omarion Melville, of Village Council Street, Laventille; Hakeem Hercules of Bois Jean Jean Street, Moruga; Darren Keston of First Street, San Juan; Damien Tommy Ramiah of Knaggs Street, Caroni; Tyreeke Williamson of Upper Belmont Valley Road, Belmont; Robert Ricky Paul of St John Road, Tunapuna; Keron Anthony Woods, of Allick Terrace Extension, Diego Martin; Kelun Alexander of Cadet Hill and Allick Extension, Diego Martin; Jaheim Charles of North Post Road, Diego Martin; Michael Jessop of Upper St Barbs Road, Laventille; Keston Modeste, of Upper Laventille Road, Laventille; Jaheem Edwards of Second Hamlet Street, St Barbs; Brent Julien of Village Council Street, Laventille; Brandon Singh of Saut D’eau Road, Paramin, Maraval; Isiah Lawrence, of Upper St Francois Valley Road, Belmont; Jason Paul of San Pedro Road in Valencia; Mark Williams, of Mentor Valley, Laventille; and Matthew Best, of Upper Gonzales Quarry, Belmont.
The orders were made by Alexander in accordance with Paragraph 2 of the Schedule to the Emergency Powers Regulations (2025).
The schedule says the minister may, if satisfied with respect to any person that, act “with a view to preventing him from acting in any manner prejudicial to public safety and, it is necessary to provide for his preventive detention, make an order that he be detained and stating concisely the grounds for such detention; and whereas it is further provided in paragraph 3(1) of the Schedule of the Emergency Powers Regulations, 2025, that any person in respect of whom a detention order is in force may be arrested without warrant by any police officer and may be detained in such place and under such conditions as the Minister may from time to time direct.”
These provisions provide for preventive detention with a view to preventing persons from acting in a manner prejudicial to the public safety of Trinidad and Tobago.
The 19 individuals are expected to be kept at the Eastern Correctional Rehabilitation Centre located in Santa Rosa, Arima, once they have been arrested.
Gang links Among the PDOs published, Best and Williams were linked to the Gonzales faction of the Rasta City Gang.
According to the publications, they both have been “identified as working closely with the said person known to the police to commit several homicides and public assassinations, most recently on the 13th July, 2025, when a vehicle driven by a person known to the police went to the Gonzales area at or about 11.40 a.m. and opened fire on a group of persons leading to the death of three persons.”
They are also suspected of being “involved in a shooting where a rival gang leader’s young son was killed as well as a second shooting which led to the death of a police officer and a subsequent shooting at the Port of Spain General Hospital. The OCG is known to have access to a cache of high-powered rifles which are used in the shootings. These most recent incidents have given rise to imminent public reprisal shootings which endanger the safety of the public.”
Jason Paul has been linked to the Resistance Gang based in the Valencia community.
According to the PDO, he has also allegedly confessed to having killed 30 people and intended to kill more.
“The detainee has confessed in a caution interview that he has engaged and is expected to continue to engage in acts of violence by planning, directing, procuring and supervising gang activity for the gang. He has admitted to arming gang members with firearms and giving them instructions from the gang leader to engage in acts of kidnapping against the business community and to kill State officials, including members of the TTPS, Prison Service, and the Judiciary. Corroborated confidential informants provide evidence that the detainee is a suspect in the kidnapping of Satie Karim on 17th July, 2025, and the murder of Kevin Paul on 10th July, 2025. A search of his home on 22nd July, 2025, uncovered ammunition. In an interview on 28th July, 2025, he admitted to having ‘soldiers’ who sell weed for him and are awaiting his instructions. He also stated his intention upon release to “deal with his rival, 7 gang. He admitted to having high-powered rifles and arms that he plans to use against the State and members of the protective services.
“The detainee identified Robert Paul as the main gang leader he gets instructions from and Rajaee Ali as the person he purchases firearms from. He claims to have already killed 30 people and intends to kill more upon his release. He also admits to planning to kill members of the Protective Services and has a ‘glaring disrespect’ for police officers in Valencia. The detainee is a second cousin to Robert Paul, the overall leader of the Resistance Gang, and communicates with him regularly, receiving instructions that he executes. He claims to be a leader, not a shooter, and that he ‘runs’ Valencia. He is also named in a social media voice note about plans to execute police officers, prison officers, and members of the Judiciary. The gang warfare between the Resistance Gang and the Seven Gang has led to a sharp increase in firearm-related offences, including homicides and shootings, since April 2025. Shootings have occurred in public places with high-powered rifles, posing a high risk of collateral damage to the public.”
Joseph, aka “Queen B”, has been identified as the second-in-command of the Resistance Gang.
She is alleged to be the love interest of a known gang leader.
“She has operational control and leadership of the gang and she has been identified as a trusted member of the gang who is planning, directing, procuring and supervising gang activity for the gang wherein she has recruited and armed gang members with firearms and provided instructions from the gang leader to engage in acts of kidnapping against the business community and to kill State officials including members of the TTPS, Prisons Service and the Judiciary. She has recently arranged high-level meetings between gang leaders of several OCGs involved in a plot to kill State officials and is recorded as giving instructions to gang enforcers to carry out coordinated assassinations of targeted officers. She also has provided finances and high-powered rifles for distribution to gang shooters. She has been recorded as having an integral role in the carrying out of a recent kidnapping and is a central figure in a planned series of imminent kidnappings of several identified members of the business community. She has also distributed weapons and offered financial incentives to gang members to ensure these activities take place as well as providing logistical support,” the order stated.
Robert Paul, aka “R-Man”, “Robby”, “Owen”, “Ricky”, and “Anderson Bissoon”, has been identified as a gang leader and the leader of the Resistance gang.
He is already incarcerated, the PDO noted.
However, despite being in prison since 2020, he has been found to be communicating with and directing his gang members to engage in criminal activities.
These activities include murder, kidnapping for ransom, and other violent offences.
As a result, he was said to be an immediate and serious threat to public safety.
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