Authorities in Trinidad and Tobago are investigating the discovery of the remains of at least 50 infants and six adults that were found discarded at a cemetery on Saturday, in what police say may involve the unlawful disposal of unclaimed bodies.
According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), the remains were discovered at Cumuto Cemetery, located approximately 40 kilometers from Port of Spain.
Preliminary investigations suggest the discovery “may be a case involving the unlawful disposal of unclaimed corpses,” police said in a statement, noting that the matter remains an active and developing investigation.
Authorities reported that the six adult remains included four males and two females. All but one of the male bodies had identification tags attached. Additionally, two of the adult bodies — one male and one female — showed signs that autopsies had been performed.
Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro described the discovery as “deeply troubling,” and said investigators are handling the case with urgency and sensitivity.
“The TTPS stresses that this is an active and developing investigation, and further forensic analysis is underway to determine the origin of the remains and any associated breaches of law or procedure,” the police statement said.
The discovery comes amid ongoing concerns about crime and public safety in Trinidad and Tobago, an English-speaking archipelago located just off the coast of Venezuela. The country recorded 623 murders in 2024 among a population of approximately 1.5 million people.
A report from the United States Department of State previously noted that Trinidad and Tobago recorded a murder rate of 37 per 100,000 people in 2023, placing it among the world’s highest. While the rate fell by 42 percent the following year, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar declared a state of emergency in March following another rise in violent crime.
Investigations into the cemetery discovery remain ongoing as authorities work to determine how the remains ended up at the site and whether any laws or procedures were violated.
