Five men have been charged with the kidnapping of landlady Tara Poliah from her home in San Juan in March.Police identified the accused as Hakeem Amzad Ali, Hector Jimenez, Reynaldo Alexander Martinez, John Evans and Johniken Gonzales.They are all being held at the Golden Grove Prison in Arouca under preventive detention orders (PDOs).On July 9, officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, led by Woman Corporal Rajkumar, went to the Golden Grove Prison, Arouca, where with the assistance of a Spanish interpreter, formally charged the five men.The accused are expected to appear before a master of the District Court in North Trinidad next week.The investigation was conducted by officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit under the supervision of ASP Lazarus, Inspector Phillip, Sgt Katerson and Woman Corporal Rajkumar.On March 25, Poliah, 73, was kidnapped from her home in San Juan.While in her garage, she was confronted by four men who forced her into a vehicle before fleeing the scene.Investigators reported that by around midnight, the kidnappers had transferred the woman to a boat, intending to transport her to Venezuela.However, acting on radar intelligence, the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard intercepted the vessel about one nautical mile off the North Coast, halting the escape.Several suspects were taken into custody during the interception, and Poliah was recovered unharmed.Authorities later confirmed that eight individuals—six Venezuelan nationals and two Trinidad and Tobago citizens—were aboard the vessel.In a separate update, the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force reported that two additional suspects attempted to evade capture by jumping into the sea during the chase.They were later rescued by a fisherman on March 26 and handed over to the Coast Guard before being transferred to police custody.According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, a total of 11 suspects were detained, including three others—two men and one woman—who were arrested at Tyrico Bay.While police sources had confirmed that some people were released, there has never been an official update from the Police Service.23 PDOs issuedOn April 13, 23 PDOs were published, all signed by Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander, in which all five charged individuals were named.A total of 12 individuals were identified as being involved in a kidnapping enterprise or kidnapping gang.Ali, Jimenez, Martinez, Evans, and Gonzales, along with seven other people, were alleged to have participated in co-ordinated operations involving multiple offenders and cross-border elements, including the use of vessels and transport networks.Several were identified as facilitators, drivers, coordinators and principal participants in kidnappings, including the luring and transport of victims.Martinez was the only person among the five charged who was identified in the PDOs as having an address in Venezuela.The other seven named on April 13 include Diogenes Adrian Arcia, Crystal Le Blanc, Daniel Williams, also called “Kimba”, Eduardo Jose Febres Rodriguez, Ishmael Salvary, Nathaniel Rojas, and Jorge Casadilla Caldea.Cross-border networkFollowing the arrests, Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro said in March that a cross-border kidnapping network had been dismantled.“This successful operation represents a significant breakthrough in our ongoing efforts to dismantle organised criminal groups involved in cross-border kidnappings,” Guevarro stated. “The speed, precision, and professionalism displayed in this rescue demonstrates that Trinidad and Tobago’s law enforcement agencies are prepared, united, and resolute in protecting our citizens.”