UK report says over 180 gangs operating in Trinidad and Tobago
Key Points(5)
- The United Kingdom government has reported that more than 180 gangs of varying size and influence are active across Trinidad and Tobago, with groups such as “Muslims” and “Rasta City” among the most prominent.
- In a recent Home Office assessment, UK officials said gang activity is largely concentrated in marginalised urban communities, particularly in and around Port of Spain and along the east–west corridor in Trinidad.
- The report estimates that gangs are responsible for about one-third of homicides in the country as of 2025.
- The analysis also draws comparisons between Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador, noting similarities in high levels of gang-related crime but significant differences in scale and structure.
- Unlike El Salvador’s MS-13 and Barrio 18, which exerted broad territorial and political influence, gangs in Trinidad and Tobago are described as smaller and more fragmented.
The United Kingdom government has reported that more than 180 gangs of varying size and influence are active across Trinidad and Tobago, with groups such as “Muslims” and “Rasta City” among the most prominent.
In a recent Home Office assessment, UK officials said gang activity is largely concentrated in marginalised urban communities, particularly in and around Port of Spain and along the east–west corridor in Trinidad. The report estimates that gangs are responsible for about one-third of homicides in the country as of 2025.
The analysis also draws comparisons between Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador, noting similarities in high levels of gang-related crime but significant differences in scale and structure. Unlike El Salvador’s MS-13 and Barrio 18, which exerted broad territorial and political influence, gangs in Trinidad and Tobago are described as smaller and more fragmented.
The report estimates there are roughly 1,750 gang members in Trinidad and Tobago—less than one per cent of the population—adding that many groups operate within limited areas, sometimes controlling only single neighbourhoods or streets.
While acknowledging isolated reports of criminal influence over local contracts, the Home Office said there is no evidence of widespread or systematic gang control over the state or national institutions.
It concluded that, based on available information, gangs in Trinidad and Tobago do not function as political actors in the same way as those in El Salvador. However, it noted that individuals who publicly oppose gangs or resist their demands could, in certain circumstances, form a “particular social group” under the Refugee Convention.
“A person who fears a gang is not likely to be able to demonstrate a link to the Refugee Convention on grounds of political opinion,” the report stated. “However, those who make a public or visible stand against the gangs are likely to form a particular social group.”
The report further clarified that even where such group membership is established, it does not automatically qualify an individual for refugee status unless they can demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution.
On March 12, 2025, the UK government imposed an immediate visitor visa requirement on nationals of Trinidad and Tobago, ending decades of visa-free travel. The change affects all short visits, including tourism, business trips, and transit.
London said the decision followed a surge in what it described as unjustified asylum claims and alleged misuse of the UK immigration system by some travellers from Trinidad and Tobago.
