A 73-year-old businesswoman who was abducted from her home in Trinidad on Tuesday night has been rescued.

Her rescue was confirmed today by Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro in an audio message to the media.

Guevarro said Tara Poliah was taken around 7:30 pm from the garage of her residence, where she was approached by four men and forced into a white Nissan wagon.

Video of the kidnapping, which circulated on social media, showed the woman screaming for help as she was bundled away by her captors into a waiting vehicle.

He said officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service launched an immediate response involving multiple specialised units, including the Traffic and Highway Patrol, Emergency Response Patrol, Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the North Eastern Division.

Additional support was later provided by the Air Support Unit and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard.

According to Guevarro, the kidnappers attempted to take the victim out of the country by sea.
He said that around midnight, Poliah was placed aboard a vessel in an attempt to transport her to Venezuela, but the vessel was intercepted by the Coast Guard.

Seven suspects — six Venezuelan nationals and one Trinidadian — were arrested during the operation.

Poliah was rescued unharmed and is reported to be in good health.

Guevarro described the operation as a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to dismantle organised criminal groups involved in cross-border kidnappings.

He also thanked members of the public for their assistance, stating: “Your cooperation and dedication directly contributed to the safe rescue of Miss Poliah. If you observe unusual behaviour or have concerns, contact the police immediately.”
Investigations are ongoing.