Unreported World: Trinidad: Guns, Drugs and Secrets

Series 2, episode 0

Reporter Seyi Rhodes and director Will West visit Trinidad to reveal how the island paradise has become the murder capital of the Caribbean. While half a million tourists soak up the carnival atmosphere every year, the government has introduced a state of emergency to try to stop the gang violence that results in a murder on average every 17 hours. The government estimates that hundreds of millions of pounds worth of drugs are smuggled into Trinidad each year. The smugglers often bring guns to protect their shipments but once the drugs leave, the guns are sold on the streets. Despite the size of the drug trans-shipment industry that uses Trinidad, few major traffickers have ever been arrested. After two months and more than 4000 arrests, street-level criminals are still the main focus of the state of emergency. Unreported World reveals how one reason for this may be corruption.