PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — A 73-year-old kidnapping victim has been safely rescued following a dramatic late-night operation at sea and a radar alert, after law enforcement intercepted a vessel off the coast of Trinidad in what officials are calling a major breakthrough against organised crime.

The woman, Tara Poliah, had been abducted just hours earlier from her home along Don Miguel Road in San Juan. Police say she was forced into a vehicle by a group of armed men shortly after 7:00 pm (local time), sparking an urgent, intelligence-led response.

Acting on information from the Radar Centre, officers tracked and intercepted a boat just before midnight, approximately one nautical mile off the coast near Corozal.

On board, they found the victim along with eight men, including six Venezuelans and two Trinidadians, all of whom were detained.

Investigators believe the abductors were attempting to transport the woman out to sea when the vessel was detected.

The operation involved multiple units of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, supported by the Coast Guard and Air Support Unit, highlighting what officials say was seamless inter-agency coordination.

Two additional suspects were later held at Tyrico Bay, bringing the total number of persons detained in connection with the incident to ten.

Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro praised the swift response, saying it underscores the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and inter-agency coordination in disrupting cross-border kidnapping networks.

Trinidad and Tobago’s primary 360-degree radar system is a coastal surveillance network managed by the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard to monitor maritime borders and combat illegal activities like drug trafficking.

This Israeli-made system received a US$7.5 million upgrade in 2018. It is capable of monitoring regions as far north as Grenada.

Poliah was found unharmed and has since been reunited with her family as investigations continue.