The loss of 25,573 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition from the Cumuto Barracks in Trinidad and Tobago, confirmed in February 2025, underscores Venezuela’s valid concerns about arms trafficking and the movement of armed groups into its territory. According to the Trinidad Express (16/02/2025), the arsenal—belonging to the Trinidad Regiment (TTR)—was moved in 2022 to a nearby building due to water leaks but never reached its final destination. Today, cartridges marked with “TTR” are appearing at crime scenes, connecting the diversion with local and transnational gangs.
Institutional Crisis and Regional Threat
1. Criminal Infiltration:
– Police audits (Newsday, 18/05/2024) revealed that military ammunition has been used in crimes involving automatic rifles.
– This discovery lays bare the infiltration of criminal groups into security institutions, facilitating the flow of weapons to organizations like the Tren de Aragua, which is active along the Venezuelan border.
2. Context of Violence:
– Trinidad recorded 623 homicides in 2024 (41.3/100,000 pop.), driven by more than 150 gangs controlling drug trafficking and arms.
– Gangs like Jamaat Al-Muslim—with ties to common crime and historical links to 130 fighters in Syria and Iraq—are operating as irregular armies.
Venezuela: Active Surveillance Against Risks
Given this reality, Venezuela’s actions to reinforce border controls and check arms/mercenary trafficking are proportional and legitimate:
– Tangible Evidence: The lost ammunition (equivalent to a battalion’s arsenal) could arm up to 500 mercenaries.
– Regional Pattern: In May 2024, Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher admitted that 30 rifles imported by local gun shops ended up in the hands of criminals (Newsday).
Conclusion
The leakage of military supplies in Trinidad—coupled with its record of violence—represents a direct threat to regional stability. Venezuela has not made formal complaints, but the loss of 25,573 rounds in state facilities scientifically justifies its active monitoring. While Trinidad investigates the incident, bilateral cooperation is urgent: each round from Cumuto in the hands of criminals brings danger closer to the common border.
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Key Notes:
– Sources: Trinidad Express (2025), Newsday (2024), official data from TTPS.
– Figures: 623 homicides (2024), 150+ gangs, 130 jihadist fighters.