The T&T Police Service (TTPS) has stepped up efforts to eliminate the extortion of private citizens and business owners by criminal elements.
Senior Superintendent in the North Central Division Richard Smith made the comment yesterday, as he noted that in one case they had dealt with, a couple extorted a business owner 134 times. However, he said the TTPS was seeing some success in curbing the activity.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Ministry of National Security, Port-of-Spain, Smith explained just how they were going about eradicating this particular crime, which was defined as demanding money by menace. He said when funds switch hands, this was now being referred to as a robbery.
In 2022, Smith said a total of 16 reports of demanding money by menace were received, of which seven were solved and persons arrested.
While the number of reports ballooned to 162 in 2023, Smith shocked the nation as he revealed, “One hundred and thirty-four of these reports were committed by two persons. A husband and wife team that extorted money from one victim.”
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