Caption: TTPS media liaison Joanne Archie, Anti-Kidnapping Unit Inspector Jason Philip, Anti-Kidnapping Unit Senior Superintendent Anderson Pariman and Anti-Kidnapping Unit Sergeant Nevon Katerson at Wednesday’s TTPS weekly crime briefing. AZP News/Alicia Chamely
In Brief
- Fewer reports: Missing persons reports in Trinidad and Tobago dropped from 341 in 2025 to 307 between 1 January and 30 September 2026.
- More unaccounted for: Despite the drop in overall reports, fewer people have been found in 2026 (92.81%) compared to 2025 (95.01%), leaving 24 individuals still missing this year.
- No waiting period: The TTPS is urging the public to report missing persons immediately, debunking the myth that you must wait 24 hours before making a report.
By Alicia Chamely
Reports of missing persons have decreased from 341 in 2025 to 307 in 2026.
There has also been a decrease in the number of minors reported missing, dropping from 150 in 2025 to 135 in 2026.
However, of the missing persons reported, a greater percentage were accounted for in 2025 than in 2026.
Anti-Kidnapping Unit Sergeant Nevon Katerson provided the figures on Wednesday at the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s (TTPS) weekly crime briefing, held at the TTPS Administration Building in Port of Spain.
Katerson said for the period of 1 January to 30 September 2026, 307 persons were reported missing, 135 of whom were minors. He noted that, to date, 283 (92.81%) of those individuals have been located. Of those found, 20 were deceased, including two minors. This leaves 24 persons—21 adults and three minors—still unaccounted for.
For comparison, Katerson said during the same period in 2025, the TTPS received 341 reports of missing persons, 150 of which involved minors. In 2025, 324 (95.01%) of the missing persons were located. Of those, 23 were deceased, inclusive of one minor. This left 17 persons unaccounted for in 2025.
Discussing the reasons a person may go missing, he said, “There are many reasons why persons go missing. I have a few examples that I would like to share: domestic abuse and fleeing homes. Many individuals, especially teenagers and women, leave home to escape physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, conflict, or neglect in a household.”
Katerson said further examples included mental health and medical issues. When it came to minors, he said a significant number of reports involved adolescents leaving home due to peer pressure, rebelling against strict parents, abuse, or romantic relationships, which may or may not be connected to sexual exploitation and grooming.
Katerson said, “Children and young women are frequently targeted by adults using money, gifts, or false relationships for sexual exploitation, which remains underreported. Human trafficking. Some teens and adults go missing and are never found.”
He added that in cases where human trafficking was suspected, the Counter Trafficking Unit was brought in to assist.
Anti-Kidnapping Unit Senior Superintendent Anderson Pariman urged all members of the public not to hesitate to report a missing person, emphasising there was no mandatory waiting period before a person could be considered missing.
Pariman said, “There is an age-old rumour I would use where you have to wait 24 hours. That is not so, right? It depends on the situation. If we look at, for instance, a child going missing, went to school, and nobody knows where the child is after school. It will be ridiculous to wait for 24 hours, right? So that thing about waiting, there is no time limit to make the report. Depends on the circumstances of the person who is being reported missing. Also, the report can be made at any police station because it has what we call an open-door policy, so officers will take the report.”
To report a kidnapping or missing person, members of the public are urged to immediately contact the TTPS at 999 or the Anti-Kidnapping Unit at 679-0858. Reports can also be made at the nearest police station.
